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[[Image:998086u.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|An essay by the [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] Dr. James Spiegel describes Bertrand Russell as a "misogynistic and a serial adulterer; a chronic seducer of women, especially very young women, even in his old age."<ref>''The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief'' By James Spiegel, page 72, Moody Publishers, 2010</ref>]]

[[Image:998086u.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|An essay by the [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] Dr. James Spiegel describes Bertrand Russell as a "misogynistic and a serial adulterer; a chronic seducer of women, especially very young women, even in his old age."<ref>''The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief'' By James Spiegel, page 72, Moody Publishers, 2010</ref>]]

'''Bertrand Russell,''' 3rd Earl Russell (1872–1970) was a British, 20th century [[philosopher]], [[mathematician]], political activist, and [[Fabian Socialism|Fabian Socialist]]<ref>{{cite book|last1=McCarran|first1=Margaret|title=Fabianism in the Political Life of Britain|date=1954|publisher=Heritage Foundation|location=Chicago|pages=45}}</ref>, who was awarded the [[Nobel Prize]] in Literature in 1950 for his writings.

'''Bertrand Russell,''' 3rd Earl Russell (1872–1970) was a British, 20th century [[philosopher]], [[mathematician]], political activist, and [[Fabian Socialism|Fabian Socialist]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=McCarran|first1=Margaret|title=Fabianism in the Political Life of Britain|date=1954|publisher=Heritage Foundation|location=Chicago|pages=45}}</ref> who was awarded the [[Nobel Prize]] in Literature in 1950 for his writings.

Russell visited the [[Soviet Union]] and met [[Lenin]] in 1920. In a tract, ''The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism'', he wrote:

Russell visited the [[Soviet Union]] and met [[Lenin]] in 1920. In a tract, ''The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism'', he wrote:

During the [[Cold War]] he advocated nuclear disarmament, even if it were unilateral on the part of Western powers, a stance mocked as "better Red than dead."<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=uIRi0BOvTi4C&pg=PA391&lpg=PA391&dq=%22better+red+than+dead%22+%22Bertrand+Russell%22&source=web&ots=WwFRaEaAmY&sig=h5XEKBrZOQidfBaca9EqJySsISM&hl=en</ref> Russell was also the first president of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and authored the Russell-Einstein Manifesto. "<ref>http://www.pugwash.org/about/manifesto.htm</ref>"

During the [[Cold War]] he advocated nuclear disarmament, even if it were unilateral on the part of Western powers, a stance mocked as "better Red than dead."<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=uIRi0BOvTi4C&pg=PA391&lpg=PA391&dq=%22better+red+than+dead%22+%22Bertrand+Russell%22&source=web&ots=WwFRaEaAmY&sig=h5XEKBrZOQidfBaca9EqJySsISM&hl=en</ref> Russell was also the first president of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and authored the Russell-Einstein Manifesto. "<ref>http://www.pugwash.org/about/manifesto.htm</ref>"

A member of British nobility with the title of "Earl", Russell remained a hero to those on the political left, particularly in the English-speaking world, throughout his life.  In his 1929 book ''Marriage and Morals'', he argued that that sex between a man and woman who are not married to each other is not necessarily immoral if they truly love one another.  In the 1960's he became a vocal critic of the [[Vietnam War]].

A member of British nobility with the title of "Earl", Russell remained a hero to those on the political left, particularly in the English-speaking world, throughout his life.  In his 1929 book ''Marriage and Morals'', he argued that that sex between a man and woman who are not married to each other is not necessarily immoral if they truly love one another.  In the 1960s he became a vocal critic of the [[Vietnam War]].

Russell also famously encapsulated the dilemma faced by all those seeking objective moral truths in the face of almost overwhelming logical evidence to the contrary:

Russell also famously encapsulated the dilemma faced by all those seeking objective moral truths in the face of almost overwhelming logical evidence to the contrary:

==Contributions to Mathematics and Philosophy==

==Contributions to Mathematics and Philosophy==

Bertrand Russell was particularly known for the famous "[[Russell's Paradox]]", which wrecked havoc on intuitivistic set theory. The basic restatement of the paradox is the following: suppose there is a predicate "x is a set that does not contain itself", does the set that is the extension of that predicate contain itself. To solve this, Russell came up with the incomprehensibly complex [[theory of types]], which was later abandoned in favour of the [[Zermelo-Fraenkel]] axioms.

Bertrand Russell was particularly known for the famous "[[Russell's Paradox]]", which wreaked havoc on intuitivistic set theory. The basic restatement of the paradox is the following: suppose there is a predicate "x is a set that does not contain itself", does the set that is the extension of that predicate contain itself. To solve this, Russell came up with the incomprehensibly complex [[theory of types]], which was later abandoned in favour of the [[Zermelo-Fraenkel]] axioms.

Russell's numerous writings had a significant influence on mathematical logic and philosophy.  His works contributed to the many branches of science even though he discredited some of his earlier writings.  

Russell's numerous writings had a significant influence on mathematical logic and philosophy.  His works contributed to the many branches of science even though he discredited some of his earlier writings.  

:War Crimes in Vietnam (1967)

:War Crimes in Vietnam (1967)

:Our Knowledge of the External World (1926)

:Our Knowledge of the External World (1926)

:Inquiry into Meaning and Truth (1962)  <ref> http://www.nndb.com/people/954/000044822/ </ref>

:Inquiry into Meaning and Truth (1962)  <ref>http://www.nndb.com/people/954/000044822/</ref>

   

   

===Agnostic or atheist?===

===Agnostic or atheist?===

His own self characterization:  

His own self characterization:  

:"I never know whether I should say '[[Agnostic]]' or whether I should say 'Atheist'.... As a philosopher, if I were speaking to a purely philosophic audience I should say that I ought to describe myself as an Agnostic, because I do not think that there is a conclusive argument by which one [can] prove that there is not a God. On the other hand, if I am to convey the right impression to the ordinary man in the street I think I ought to say that I am an Atheist, because when I say that I cannot prove that there is not a God, I ought to add equally that I cannot prove that there are not the Homeric gods."<ref> Russell, Bertrand (1947) "Am I An Atheist Or An Agnostic?"[http://www.luminary.us/russell/atheist_agnostic.html] Most online sources say "by which one prove," probably a mistake.</ref>  

:"I never know whether I should say '[[Agnostic]]' or whether I should say 'Atheist'.... As a philosopher, if I were speaking to a purely philosophic audience I should say that I ought to describe myself as an Agnostic, because I do not think that there is a conclusive argument by which one [can] prove that there is not a God. On the other hand, if I am to convey the right impression to the ordinary man in the street I think I ought to say that I am an Atheist, because when I say that I cannot prove that there is not a God, I ought to add equally that I cannot prove that there are not the Homeric gods."<ref>Russell, Bertrand (1947) "Am I An Atheist Or An Agnostic?"[http://www.luminary.us/russell/atheist_agnostic.html] Most online sources say "by which one prove," probably a mistake.</ref>  

The evidence points to Bertrand Russell being a "[[Weak atheism|weak atheist]]" (Bertrand Russell wrote an essay entitled ''Am I An Atheist Or An Agnostic?'').<ref>http://www.luminary.us/russell/atheist_agnostic.html</ref>  In 1927, Bertrand Russell wrote an essay entitled "''Why I am not a Christian''" which was based on a lecture Russell gave the same year.<ref>http://gregbahnsen.blogspot.com/2007/06/interlude-why-bertrand-russell-should.html</ref><ref>http://gregbahnsen.blogspot.com/2007/06/interlude-why-bertrand-russell-should.html</ref>   

The evidence points to Bertrand Russell being a "[[Weak atheism|weak atheist]]" (Bertrand Russell wrote an essay entitled ''Am I An Atheist Or An Agnostic?'').<ref>http://www.luminary.us/russell/atheist_agnostic.html</ref>  In 1927, Bertrand Russell wrote an essay entitled "''Why I am not a Christian''" which was based on a lecture Russell gave the same year.<ref>http://gregbahnsen.blogspot.com/2007/06/interlude-why-bertrand-russell-should.html</ref><ref>http://gregbahnsen.blogspot.com/2007/06/interlude-why-bertrand-russell-should.html</ref>   

== Bertrand Russell's pessimistic worldview ==

== Bertrand Russell's pessimistic worldview ==

[[File:Bertrand Russell transparent bg.png|thumbnail|right|200px|[[Bertrand Russell]] ]]

[[File:Bertrand Russell transparent bg.png|thumbnail|right|200px|Bertrand Russell]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism]]