Bertrand Russell's Recommendations
Bertrand Russell was a mathematician, logician and Nobel prize winner. Many regard him as the greatest philosopher of the century. Here is his advice for you!
A Liberal Decalogue
by Bertrand Russell
Perhaps the essence of the Liberal outlook could be summed up in a new
decalogue, not intended to replace the old one but only to supplement it. The
Ten Commandments that, as a teacher, I should wish to promulgate, might be set
forth as follows:
- Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.
-
Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the
evidence is sure to come to light.
-
Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.
-
When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or
your children, endeavor to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for
a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
-
Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary
authorities to be found.
-
Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do
the opinions will suppress you.
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Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was
once eccentric.
-
Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent that in passive agreement, for, if
you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement
than the latter.
-
Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more
inconvenient when you try to conceal it.
-
Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness.
from The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell.
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