| | '''Bertrand Russell,''' 3rd Earl Russell (1872–1970) was a 20th century [[philosopher]], [[mathematician]] and [[atheist]]<ref>His own 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." 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> and was awarded the [[Nobel Prize]] in Literature in 1950 for his writings. | | '''Bertrand Russell,''' 3rd Earl Russell (1872–1970) was a 20th century [[philosopher]], [[mathematician]] and [[atheist]]<ref>His own 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." 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> and 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 "I believe that [[Communism]] is necessary to the world, and I believe ... [[Bolshevik|Bolshevism]] deserves the gratitude and admiration of all the [[Progressivism|progressive]] part of mankind. But the method by which [[Moscow]] aims at establishing Communism is a pioneer method, rough and dangerous, too heroic to count the cost of the opposition it arouses. I do not believe that by this method a stable or desirable form of Communism can be established. Three issues seem to me possible from the present situation: | | Russell visited the [[Soviet Union]] and met [[Lenin]] in 1920. In a tract, ''The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism'', he wrote "I believe that [[Communism]] is necessary to the world, and I believe ... [[Bolshevik|Bolshevism]] deserves the gratitude and admiration of all the [[Progressivism|progressive]] part of mankind. But the method by which [[Moscow]] aims at establishing Communism is a pioneer method, rough and dangerous, too heroic to count the cost of the opposition it arouses. I do not believe that by this method a stable or desirable form of Communism can be established. Three issues seem to me possible from the present situation: |