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Articles

Russell’s Moral Quandary

David Berman holds key oppositions in tension, including concerning morality.

The 1948 BBC radio debate between Bertrand Russell and Frederick Copleston on the existence of God is justly famous as a notable moment in the history of twentieth century philosophy. For one thing, it seems to have been the first time that two respected philosophers – one highly and widely respected – debated publicly, in the mass media, on the existence of God. Before 1948, there had been many public debates on the subject, but between popular atheists, like Charles Bradlaugh, and clergymen of various religious denominations, where neither debater had any real standing in philosophy.

In his Life of Bertrand Russell (1975), Ronald Clark describes Russell’s involvement with the BBC, and how, by 1947, it had become intense. Continuing his account, Clark quotes Ronald Lewin of the BBC as saying that “Of all the many speakers I handled I would put Bertie among the most professional… His scripts were always immaculately composed to exactly the right length and written in a style that absolutely fitted his way of speaking.

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