Most people can distinguish between right and wrong. They form values based on laws, rules, or some kind of objective sense of morality. But not Bertrand Russell.
Nope, this atheist’s discernment of right and wrong was based on something far more fickle.
In January of 1948, two of Britain’s finest minds met to discuss the existence of God. Frederick Copleston, a Jesuit Catholic priest, argued that God existed, while self-confessed agnostic Bertrand Russell argued there was no such thing as God.
Their discussion roamed over the usual topics embedded in philosophy: epistemology, experience, explanation, and so on. But the conversation eventually turned to the subject of morality – the idea of right vs. wrong. Debates like these always do. But these men weren’t just having an academic exchange on the subject of good vs. evil; a mere three years earlier, Nazis were murdering Jews by the millions in gas chambers.
Listen to what each man had to say in his own words:
Bertrand Russell: You see, I feel that some things are good and that other things are bad. I love the things that are good, that I think are good, and I hate the things that I think are bad. I don’t say that these things are good because they participate in the Divine goodness.
Father Copleston: Yes, but what’s your justification for distinguishing between good and bad or how do you view the distinction between them?
Bertrand Russell: I don’t have any justification any more than I have when I distinguish between blue and yellow. What is my justification for distinguishing between blue and yellow? I can see they are different.
Father Copleston: Well, that is an excellent justification, I agree. You distinguish blue and yellow by seeing them, so you distinguish good and bad by what faculty?
Bertrand Russell: By my feelings.
Hmm…. Right and wrong determined by feelings. Just one question: what happens when your feelings change? Feelings should never be the basis of our morality, the difference between right and wrong (or good and evil). Here are just a few reasons why:
Some “feel” they should tell the truth. Others “feel” honesty isn’t necessary.
Some “feel” children should be protected. Others “feel” they make great soldiers in brutal wars.
Some “feel” women should be cherished. Others “feel” they should be raped.
The people who lived through the Book of Judges in the Old Testament can attest to the pain that comes from basing life on feelings. Twice we’re told in that book, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6 and 21:25) The result was an ongoing cycle of sin and suffering.
We need to choose a better standard for distinguishing right from wrong. God’s Word remains the best.
Click here for the online report.
Topics Illustrated Include:
Behavior
Bible
Discernment
Evil
Feelings
God’s Existence
God’s Word
Judgment
Morality
Right
Values
Wrong
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)