Bertrand Russell Appreciation

A BBC Interview With Bertrand Russell | The New Republic

Russell was tenacious in his pursuit of truth. His intellectual curiousity and brilliant mind lead him to the limits of mathematics, through the history of philosophy, and to the forefront of logical analysis. Though he is what many would consider an "ivory tower" philosopher, his persistent message of tolerance made him one of the most important public intellectuals of the 20th century.

Both of these aspects of Russell are present in the video. Truth cannot be tainted by specious reasoning or individual inclinations and aspirations. The search for truth was vital to Russell, but he realized the dangers of such a search, hence the second part of his message: love and tolerance. Despite our drive for knowledge, we must not let such a search render us purblind and susceptible to violence or hate. A world with nuclear weapons was dreadful to Russell, and it can be assumed that Russell has nuclear capabilities on his mind when he speaks. The increasingly interconnected world has many consequences, many beneficial to mankind, but also, as Russell must be aware, an increase in the likelihood of conflict and war, which is why, in Russell's opinion, "tolerance" and "charity" are "absolutely vital."