Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) was a 20th century atheist championed by liberals and awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 for his pacifist writings.

Russell was part philosopher and part mathematician. His biggest work was a three-volume attempt to derive all mathematical principles from a well-defined set of axioms and inference rules in symbolic logic, entitled Principia Mathematica (1910-1913). He published this work with Alfred North Whitehead.

Russell failed in his effort. In fact, Kurt Godel proved in 1931 that what Russell attempted to do is mathematically impossible.

During the Cold War he advocated nuclear disarmament, provoking controversy with the phrase "better Red than dead."

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.