Icarus : $b or, The future of scienceRussell, Bertrand
Philosophy
Icarus : $b or, The future of science
Russell, Bertrand
Civilization; Science; Science and state
It would seem probable that, in the next fifty years or so, we shall
see a still further increase in the power of governments, and a
tendency for governments to be such as are desired by the men who
control armaments and raw materials. The forms of democracy may survive
in western countries, since those who possess military and economic
power can control education and the press, and therefore can usually
secure a subservient democracy. Rival economic groups will presumably
remain associated with rival nations, and will foster nationalism in
order to recruit their football teams.
There is, however, a hopeful element in the problem. The planet is
of finite size, but the most efficient size for an organization
is continually increased by new scientific inventions. The world
becomes more and more of an economic unity. Before very long the
technical conditions will exist for organizing the whole world as one
producing and consuming unit. If, when that time comes, two rival
groups contend for mastery, the victor may be able to introduce that
single world-wide organization that is needed to prevent the mutual
extermination of civilized nations. The world which would result
would be, at first, very different from the dreams of either liberals
or socialists; but it might grow less different with the lapse of
time. There would be at first economic and political tyranny of
the victors, a dread of renewed upheavals, and therefore a drastic
suppression of liberty. But if the first half-dozen revolts were
successfully repressed, the vanquished would give up hope, and accept
the subordinate place assigned to them by the victors in the great
world-trust. As soon as the holders of power felt secure, they would
grow less tyrannical and less energetic. The motive of rivalry being
removed, they would not work so hard as they do now, and would soon
cease to exact such hard work from their subordinates. Life at first
might be unpleasant, but it would at least be possible, which would be
enough to recommend the system after a long period of warfare. Given a
stable world-organization, economic and political, even if, at first,
it rested upon nothing but armed force, the evils which now threaten
civilization would gradually diminish, and a more thorough democracy
than that which now exists might become possible. I believe that, owing
to men’s folly, a world-government will only be established by force,
and will therefore be at first cruel and despotic. But I believe that
it is necessary for the preservation of a scientific civilization,
and that, if once realized, it will gradually give rise to the other
conditions of a tolerable existence.
IV. THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account