 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
So much for the debit account in the matter of intelligence. There are, however, very important items on the credit side. The main use that has been made of intelligence so far is to increase the numbers of the human population of the globe. I do not know how far this can be considered a merit. If all were happy, it clearly would be. But if most are miserable there does not seem much advantage in increasing the number of sufferers.
Source: Bertrand Russell: Human Society in Ethics and Politics, 1954, part II: The Conflict of Passions, chapter 3: Forethought and Skill, n.18
More info.： https://russell-j.com/cool/47T-2_0318.htm
* a brief comment
For rulers (those in state power), an increase in population is a welcome development as it contributes to the economic growth of their country and leads to higher tax revenues. However, an excessive increase in population is not always a welcome change for individual citizens. For example, in a densely populated country like Japan, if one wishes to live in a convenient urban area, they must spend a significant amount of money to purchase land or housing, leaving less money available for daily living expenses.
If the global population becomes excessive, humanity may need to consider migrating to extraterrestrial planets in the future. Entrepreneurs like Elon Musk argue that governments should provide greater financial support for private space development ventures. However, migration to extraterrestrial planets is a far-off prospect, and spending large amounts of taxpayer money on such endeavors could lead to an increase in the number of people suffering due to poverty.
* Amazon Gift Card
