Mortals and Others (Routledge Classics) 1st Edition by Bertrand Russell (EPUB)

Description

Between 1931 and 1935, Bertrand Russell contributed some 156 essays to the literary pages of the American newspaper New York American. These were often fun, humorous observations on the very real issues of the day, such as the Depression, the rise of Nazism and Prohibition, to more perennial themes such as love, parenthood, education and friendship. Available for the first time in the Routledge Classics series in a single volume, this pithy, provocative and often-personal collection of essays brings together the very best of Russell’s many contributions to the New York American, and proves just as engaging for today’s readers as they were in the 1930s.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐The short comments in this bundle show vividly B. Russell’s biting and sarcastic style as well as his in depth views on the real nature of man, on power, politics, economics, democracy, education and philosophy.The haves and have-notsThe aristocracy, which held all political power from 1688 to 1832, spent the last half of that period in making laws which reduced wage earners to the most abject poverty. Grain was taxed so heavily that bread was at famine prices and vast numbers of the poor died of hunger.It became known that little children worked fifteen hours a day, that they had to be beaten with iron rods to keep them awake and that nevertheless they sometimes fell asleep and were mangled by rolling into the machines.Power, democracy and justiceThe monarchs of our world are the governors of the central banks. These men decide our fate. The great magnates exercise power through political corruption and control of the press. Democracy is desirable because any section of mankind which has a monopoly of power is sure to invent theories designed to prove that the rest of mankind had better to do without the good things of life. But, political democracy is little better than a sham unless it is accompanied by economic and educational democracy. Overall justice requires distribution of power.International politics and warIn relation between different States, we still have the conditions of universal brigandage.The ordinary man and woman will be induced to die in war for a `noble’ cause, while really dying to make rich and powerful men richer and more powerful.Economics (Keynesianism)Public expenditure may be profitable to the community. At a time of wide-spread unemployment many men receive wages which they spend, thereby increasing demand. Also, an atmosphere of hopefulness can be created.EducationIn schools and universities no one is taught to reason, since the result would be to undermine the beliefs upon which the government is based. If these beliefs were to fade, mankind might escape disaster, but politicians could not. At all costs, we must be kept stupid.Philosophy (essence)The Benthamites taught that the purpose of action should be should be the greatest happiness of the greatest number. They are in the right.Mankind, ethics, visionary insightsHuman nature unrestrained by law is violent and cruel. All ethical systems, in the last analysis, depend upon weapons of war.Insanity consists in making openly those claims which people repress from consciousness. Sanity is not the natural condition of the human mind, but a product of social life.A man’s life, like his property, ought to be legally his, and if he chooses to throw it away, he should be allowed to do so.Most people would die sooner thank think, in fact they do.Human beings in their rage against each other will invoke the aid of insects and microorganisms (B-weapons).Those brilliantly written comments are an excellent introduction to B. Russell’s main work. They are in depth reflection of a superb, totally independent, open and free mind. He reveals in a nutshell the real, formidably selfish, `sinister’ interests behind the rhetoric of those in power. Many `great’ names in political, historical, social, religious or economic research, don’t (want to) even arrive at these insights (or continue to hide them) after thousands of pages.A must read.

⭐I defy any thinking person to read Bertrand Russell without learning something – even if it is just how to think more clearly. This collection of essays written for the New York American between 1931 and 1935 remains surprisingly relevant today, dealing as it does with universal themes that continue to puzzle and haunt us. Penned with wit and marvellous turns of phrase, ‘Mortals and Others’ is a delightful chocolate box of ideas and analysis. A great mind, a first-class writer, and a lifeline for the weary of heart.

⭐The short comments in this bundle show vividly B. Russell’s biting and sarcastic style as well as his in depth views on the real nature of man, on power, politics, economics, democracy, education and philosophy.The haves and have-notsThe aristocracy, which held all political power from 1688 to 1832, spent the last half of that period in making laws which reduced wage earners to the most abject poverty. Grain was taxed so heavily that bread was at famine prices and vast numbers of the poor died of hunger.It became known that little children worked fifteen hours a day, that they had to be beaten with iron rods to keep them awake and that nevertheless they sometimes fell asleep and were mangled by rolling into the machines.Power, democracy and justiceThe monarchs of our world are the governors of the central banks. These men decide our fate. The great magnates exercise power through political corruption and control of the press. Democracy is desirable because any section of mankind which has a monopoly of power is sure to invent theories designed to prove that the rest of mankind had better to do without the good things of life. But, political democracy is little better than a sham unless it is accompanied by economic and educational democracy. Overall justice requires distribution of power.International politics and warIn relation between different States, we still have the conditions of universal brigandage.The ordinary man and woman will be induced to die in war for a `noble’ cause, while really dying to make rich and powerful men richer and more powerful.Economics (Keynesianism)Public expenditure may be profitable to the community. At a time of wide-spread unemployment many men receive wages which they spend, thereby increasing demand. Also, an atmosphere of hopefulness can be created.EducationIn schools and universities no one is taught to reason, since the result would be to undermine the beliefs upon which the government is based. If these beliefs were to fade, mankind might escape disaster, but politicians could not. At all costs, we must be kept stupid.Philosophy (essence)The Benthamites taught that the purpose of action should be should be the greatest happiness of the greatest number. They are in the right.Mankind, ethics, visionary insightsHuman nature unrestrained by law is violent and cruel. All ethical systems, in the last analysis, depend upon weapons of war.Insanity consists in making openly those claims which people repress from consciousness. Sanity is not the natural condition of the human mind, but a product of social life.A man’s life, like his property, ought to be legally his, and if he chooses to throw it away, he should be allowed to do so.Most people would die sooner thank think, in fact they do.Human beings in their rage against each other will invoke the aid of insects and microorganisms (B-weapons).Those brilliantly written comments are an excellent introduction to B. Russell’s main work. They are in depth reflection of a superb, totally independent, open and free mind. He reveals in a nutshell the real, formidably selfish, `sinister’ interests behind the rhetoric of those in power. Many `great’ names in political, historical, social, religious or economic research, don’t (want to) even arrive at these insights (or continue to hide them) after thousands of pages.A must read.

⭐Great read, the book contains various topics well though of by the author, it makes the read think, smile, learn, change perspective …

⭐All is perfect

⭐Passionnant, intelligent, authentique, à la plume virtuose, légère et intense, pour une lecture fluide qui permet de rentrer dans le fond des sujets, sans se perdre en dégréssions narcisiques

⭐Not found.

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