Revisiting Why Bertrand Russell Was Prevented from Teaching at CCNY
Location
Beaman A&B
Presentation Type
Presentation
Start Date
25-9-2012 2:00 PM
Description
Bertrand Russell was one of the most brilliant and controversial philosophers of the mid-twentieth century. His reputation for brilliance was made when, together with Alfred North Whitehead, he authored the ground-breaking work Principia Mathematica, which became one of the most widely heralded books on the foundation of mathematics as logic. Russell brought philosophy into popular public discourse in England and America in a way never seen before or since. He was frequently featured in BBC broadcasts, especially “The Brains Trust” and the “Third Programme.” During his long tenure at Cambridge University his fame grew dramatically, as did the controversies that surrounded his views on morality, religion, politics, and social institutions. In this talk, Dr. Littlejohn recounts the events surrounding first the offer of a distinguished teaching position to Russell at the City College of New York and its subsequent withdrawal. He explains the functions and impact of incivility in this all-too-real case and considers the causes for resorting to such strategies.
Recommended Citation
Littlejohn, Ronnie, "Revisiting Why Bertrand Russell Was Prevented from Teaching at CCNY" (2012). Humanities Symposium. 24.
https://repository.belmont.edu/humanities_symposium/2012/2012/24
Revisiting Why Bertrand Russell Was Prevented from Teaching at CCNY
Beaman A&B
Bertrand Russell was one of the most brilliant and controversial philosophers of the mid-twentieth century. His reputation for brilliance was made when, together with Alfred North Whitehead, he authored the ground-breaking work Principia Mathematica, which became one of the most widely heralded books on the foundation of mathematics as logic. Russell brought philosophy into popular public discourse in England and America in a way never seen before or since. He was frequently featured in BBC broadcasts, especially “The Brains Trust” and the “Third Programme.” During his long tenure at Cambridge University his fame grew dramatically, as did the controversies that surrounded his views on morality, religion, politics, and social institutions. In this talk, Dr. Littlejohn recounts the events surrounding first the offer of a distinguished teaching position to Russell at the City College of New York and its subsequent withdrawal. He explains the functions and impact of incivility in this all-too-real case and considers the causes for resorting to such strategies.
Comments
Convo: AL