The life of Sir Bertrand Russell
Sir Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) was one of the most influential and important philosophers of the twentieth century. Born to an aristocratic British family, Russell displayed a precocious talent for mathematics from an early age and, following a brief period of independent study, was accepted as a student at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1890. Whilst there, he proved to be one of the most outstanding minds of the era, and was elected to several prestigious posts in the university.
In the years that followed his graduation in 1895, Russell focused his attention on the study of principles of logic and the foundations of mathematics. In this pursuit he shared a close friendship with Alfred North Whitehead, with whom he wrote the epoch-making Principia Mathematica (1910–1913). This three-volume work laid the foundations for modern mathematical reasoning and is widely regarded as one of the most important books of the twentieth century.
In 1914, Russell severed his ties with the academy and dedicated himself to liberal causes, including pacifism and the advancement of female suffrage. He became a prominent figure in the anti-war movement during World War I, and was briefly imprisoned for his beliefs. Following his release, he published several works sociological works, including Principia Ethica (1903) and The Problems of Philosophy (1912), which explored the fundamentals of ethical life and the logic of scientific knowledge.
In the inter-war years, Russell returned to academia and published a steady stream of textbooks, philosophical works and political commentary. A vocal critic of the establishment and its static ideas, he served as a prominent figure in the free-thought movement of the 1920s and 1930s. He was an ardent advocate of critical thinking and had a particular penchant for exploring the nature of moral judgments. He championed a utilitarian approach to decision-making, arguing that human action should be directed towards the maximization of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.
Through the 1950s and 1960s, the elderly Russell achieved worldwide fame as a spokesman for liberal causes, traveling the world and giving lectures on diverse subjects ranging from the morality of nuclear weaponry to the education of the young. His autobiography, The Autobiography Of Bertrand Russell, carried an oft-quoted maxim – “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts” – exemplifying his lifelong commitment to tolerance and open-mindedness.
Russell was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950, and was made a Companion of Honour the same year. He died in 1970 at the age of 97 and was lauded by many as the most influential British philosopher of the twentieth century. His works continue to be widely studied and remain an essential part of the intellectual tradition of the modern world.
