Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Russell in 1876

Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park

Portrait of Bertrand Russell in 1893

National Committee of the No-Conscription Fellowship May 1916

Russell with John and Kate

Bertrand Russell 1954

Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970) was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, writer, social critic, political activist, and Nobel laureate. At various points in his life, Russell considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had "never been any of these things, in any profound sense." He was born into one of the most prominent aristocratic families in the United Kingdom, and he spent most of his life actively involved in public affairs.

Early Life

Russell was born in Trellech, Monmouthshire, into an influential and liberal family of the British aristocracy. His parents, Viscount and Viscountess Amberley, were radical for their times. Russell was orphaned at a young age, and his grandfather, former Prime Minister John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, took him under his care. This early loss shaped much of his outlook on life and death, themes he would return to in his philosophical works.

Education and Academic Career

Russell was educated at home by tutors until he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied mathematics and moral sciences. He became a fellow of Trinity in 1895 and, after being influenced by the works of George Boole and Gottlob Frege, contributed significantly to the foundation of analytic philosophy and logic. Russell's most notable works in this area include The Principles of Mathematics (1903) and, with Alfred North Whitehead, Principia Mathematica (1910-1913), which aimed to ground mathematics on logic.

Philosophical and Political Views

Russell's philosophical views evolved over his lifetime, covering many areas of philosophy, including epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and political philosophy. He was a prominent advocate of empiricism and rationalism, and he had a profound influence on the development of logical positivism and analytic philosophy. Russell was also an outspoken social critic and political activist, advocating for anti-imperialism, pacifism, and nuclear disarmament. He was imprisoned during World War I for his pacifist activities.

In addition to his philosophical and mathematical work, Russell wrote extensively on social issues and was a popular, albeit controversial, public intellectual. His works in this area include Marriage and Morals (1929) and A History of Western Philosophy (1945), the latter providing a comprehensive overview of Western philosophy from the pre-Socratic philosophers to the early 20th century and becoming a best-seller.

Nobel Prize

In 1950, Russell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, "in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought."

Legacy

Russell's work has had a considerable influence on logic, mathematics, set theory, linguistics, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science, and various areas of philosophy. Today, he is regarded as one of the founders of analytic philosophy. Russell's activism on peace, anti-imperialism, and against nuclear weapons has also left a lasting impact on the peace movements of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Selected Bibliography

• The Principles of Mathematics (1903)
• Principia Mathematica (1910-1913, with Alfred North Whitehead)
• The Problems of Philosophy (1912)
• Marriage and Morals (1929)
• A History of Western Philosophy (1945)

See Also

• Philosophy of language
• Philosophy of mathematics
• Analytic philosophy
• Logic
• Pacifism