- Anything Else -

Bertrand Russell!

Posted by: MDG on December 21, 1999 at 23:08:14:

In Reply to: Yes? posted by Gideon Hallett on December 20, 1999 at 18:09:00:

: Space and climate physicist by training; currently working in the computer industry;

Oh, wise guy, eh?

: but I was exposed to a lot of philosophy whilst at university; logic, epistemology and metaphysics, philosophy of science and the like. Some of it I argue on the hoof, but much of it is based on the works of people like Popper, Russell and Wittgenstein.

I haven't gone out of my way to read Russell, but every time his work crosses my vision, I like what I see. I remember he was asked what he would say if, upon dying, he met God and was asked by God why he [Russell] was an atheist during life. Russell replied: "I'd say I'm sorry, God, but you should have given me more proof."

And, for another Russell quote, I offer this:

"Religion is based... mainly on fear....fear of the mysterious, fear of
defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it
is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand.... My own
view on religion is that of Lucretius. I regard it as a disease born of
fear and as a source of untold misery to the human race."
[Bertrand Russell, quoted in "Holy Horrors"]

My kind of guy...


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