Introduction to Bertrand Russell: A LIFE, by Herbert Gottschalk
* Source: Bertrand Russell: A LIFE, by Herbert Gottschalk (London; Allen & Unwin, 1967. 91 p. 19 cm. Unwin Books Series n.70)* B. Russell, eine Biographie was first pub. by the Colloquium Verlag, Otto H. Hess in 1962.
* First pub. in English by John Barker in 1965.
* FIrst pub. in Unwin Books ed. in 1967.
Introduction
HARDLY any philosopher has been as well known during his lifetime as Bertrand Russell, though this is due less to his philosophic labours than to his constant preoccupation with the tremendous world-wide questions that concern our generation. The older Russell grew, the bctter known his name became which means that most people have never known him as anything but a small gentleman with a fine head of whitish hair, a prominent nose and sardonic mouth, and a lively ironic smile. He was born in an era which already belongs to history, and he assimilated the ideas of the nineteenth century and he approved of its devotion to human progress. Though in the meantime two world wars have shaken belief in the essential reasonableness of mankind Bertrand Russell still stands firm. Unshakably convinced that the free man must fight to the end for the preservation of his freedom, he is always to be found in the front ranks of those who want to save peace in a threatened world. In consequence at the age of almost ninety he once again suffered arrest for defying authority.In 1937 he wrote his own obituary, and it was published in The Times and other newspapers on June 1, 1962, shortly before his ninetieth birthday.*1 He describes himself in this auto-obituary as a man of unusual principles, but one who at least is always prepared to live up to them.
Following unwittingly in the footsteps of Frege he established his scientiflc reputation at the beginning of the present century by the publication of Principia Mathematica, a work he wrote in conjunction with Alfred Whitehead. Breaking with traditional philosophic thought he sought to make mathematical logic the basis of philosophy, though since then doubts are beginning to arise concerning the validity of this undertaking. The thesis is disputed, for example, by Professor Freytag-Loringhoff, and by Professor Gunther Jacoby.
Nevertheless, Russell's own performance remains undiminished. He was never interested in building up a rigid philosophic system but in serving scientific truth to the best of his ability in his own way. Because of this he has never found it difficult to admit errors once he has recognized them, or to turn freely to newly-won truths. This has more than once brought a reproach that he lacks consistency-and even firmness of character.
The turbulent affairs of the world finally swept him out of his scholarly seclusion, and he publicly denounced the basis of what he regarded as an out-of-date morality which constantly led to new wars. In a great number of popularly written publications he put forward constructive proposals for reforms in all spheres of life. People were shocked and scandalized by his frankuess, a quality which is characteristic of the man, and although it can hardly be said to have changed the world as a whole it has nevertheless stimulated the minds of many people.
Bertrand Russell's published works fill a quite impressive shelf and amount to something like seventy volumes.
They include his many important lectures, but not his innumerable reviews, newspaper articles and wireless and television talks. The world-wide interest he arouses is due to some extent to his wit and eloquence and to his brilliant gift of presenting difficult problems in an entertaining and understandable fashion.
*1 This obituary never in fact appeared in The Times. It was printed in The Listener in 1937 and in Unpopular Essays(1950). The date, June 1st, would of course have been after Russell's birthday [ed.]