Free Thought and Official Propaganda

Free Thought and Official Propaganda PDF

Author: Bertrand Russell

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2023-10-12

Total Pages: 31

ISBN-13:

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In Free Thought and Official Propaganda, Bertrand Russell delves deep into the intricacies of free thinking juxtaposed against the pervasive influences of official propaganda. With his sharp analytical prowess, Russell illuminates the dynamics of information dissemination, societal control, and the relentless pursuit of truth in an age of conflicting narratives.

Free Thought and Official Propaganda

Free Thought and Official Propaganda PDF

Author: Bertrand Russell

Publisher: Classy Publishing

Published: 2023-04-05

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9789355223043

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Free Thought and Official Propaganda is a speech delivered in 1922 by Bertrand Russell on the importance of unrestricted freedom of expression in society, and the problem of the state and political class interfering in this through control of education, fines, economic leverage, and distortion of evidence. Russell starts out by describing the more common use of the term "free thought" to mean that one does not accept unquestioning belief in the popular religion of a region, or ideally of any religion at all. He notes that this is not allowed in any country at all, with the possible exception of China at that time. One could not, for example, immigrate to the US without swearing they are not an anarchist or polygamous, and once inside must not be communist. In Great Britain he must not express disbelief in Christianity, in Japan of Shinto. Russell notes that countries like these may think of themselves as having freedom of expression, but that some ideas are so obviously "monstrous and immoral" that such tolerance does not apply to them. But, he points out, this is exactly the same view that allowed torture during the Inquisition, that all ideas must be allowed to be expressed, no matter how obviously bad. This repression by the political class, Russell notes, is not limited to religion. Believers in free love or communism are treated even worse.

Free Thought and Official Propaganda

Free Thought and Official Propaganda PDF

Author: Bertrand Russell

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 1922

Total Pages: 56

ISBN-13:

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I have come here to-night, partly because I want to hear Mr. Russell, and partly because of an old affection for South Place and its traditions. I myself have been for more than forty years a professional teacher; and it is as a teacher-who thirty-seven years ago was dismissed for refusing religious conformity-that I most easily approach the problem of free thought. Though systems of education professing to teach men and women how to think have been in use in Europe for, perhaps, three thousand years, we have not yet reached that degree of success which would be shown if most educated people came to much the same conclusions on the great problems of life from a study of the same evidence. Everywhere you have rebels; but ninety per cent. of French or American students of history come to French or American conclusions, and eighty-five per cent. of English students come to English conclusions; eighty per cent. of Eton boys hold Eton political opinions all their lives; ninety per cent. of the Irish Catholic population of the United States seem to hold generation after generation identical opinions on religion and politics which are not held by the vast majority of Americans. It may be said that in these cases only one kind of evidence is allowed to reach the students in each institution.

Free Thought and Official Propaganda

Free Thought and Official Propaganda PDF

Author: Bertrand Russell

Publisher:

Published: 2015-07-04

Total Pages: 54

ISBN-13: 9781330656761

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Excerpt from Free Thought and Official Propaganda: Delivered at South Place Institute on March 24, 1922 I have come here to-night, partly because I want to hear Mr. Russell, and partly because of an old affection for South Place and its traditions. I myself have been for more than forty years a professional teacher; and it is as a teacher - who thirty-seven years ago was dismissed for refusing religious conformity - that I most easily approach the problem of free thought. Though systems of education professing to teach men and women how to think have been in use in Europe for, perhaps, three thousand years, we have not yet reached that degree of success which would be shown if most educated people came to much the same conclusions on the great problems of life from a study of the same evidence. Everywhere you have rebels; but ninety per cent. of French or American students of history come to French or American conclusions, and eighty-five per cent. of English students come to English conclusions; eighty per cent. of Eton boys hold Eton political opinions all their lives; ninety per cent. of the Irish Catholic population of the United States seem to hold generation after generation identical opinions on religion and politics which are not held by the vast majority of Americans. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Free Thought and Official Propaganda

Free Thought and Official Propaganda PDF

Author: Bertrand Russell

Publisher: Palala Press

Published: 2016-05-08

Total Pages: 52

ISBN-13: 9781355963004

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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The Will to Doubt

The Will to Doubt PDF

Author: Bertrand Russell

Publisher: Open Road Media

Published: 2014-12-02

Total Pages: 92

ISBN-13: 1497675723

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One of modern history’s great thinkers takes on prejudice, superstition, and conventional wisdom, using wit and insight to argue for a rational way of life. In a brilliant series of essays, Bertrand Russell uses challenging skepticism and sharp humor to attack the obstacles to building a society based on reason. Russell’s thoughts are as lively and pertinent today as when they were written. His topics range from the defects of the education system to the failure of the belief among the younger generation, from our mistaken concepts of democracy to the ever-present threat to freedom throughout the world—even in the West which prides itself so much on being free.

Free Thought and Official Propaganda

Free Thought and Official Propaganda PDF

Author: Bertrand Russell

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2015-10-13

Total Pages: 24

ISBN-13: 9781507586334

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"[...]people who have the opposite bias, and cultivating a readiness to discard any hypothesis which has proved inadequate. These methods are practised in science, and have built up the body of scientific knowledge. Every man of science whose outlook is truly scientific is ready to admit that what passes for scientific knowledge at the moment is sure to require correction with the progress of discovery; nevertheless, it is near enough to the truth to serve for most practical[...]".