The Scientific Outlook, Series Introduction

Series Introduction

Bertrand Russell 

This series examines Bertrand Russell's 1931 book The Scientific Outlook. Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell (1872-1970) was a renowned British philosopher and mathematician who was an adamant internationalist and worked extensively on the education of young children. This included running an experimental school in the 1920's with his second wife Dora Black. He was the founder of the Pugwash movement which used the spectre of Cold War nuclear annihilation to push for world government. Among many other prizes, Russell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 and UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) Kalinga prize for the popularization of science in 1957. 

• Part 1 of this series examines science as power-thought and the use of scientific technique to increase the power of an elite scientific minority over the unscientific masses.  

• Part 2 examines the composition of the society of experts who will use scientific technique to dominate the masses. At the forefront of this society of experts is the expert "manipulator", whom Lenin is the archetype. This society also aims to conceal its power and influence behind political veils like democracy.  

• Part 3 explores the application of scientific technique to education with an emphasis on the distinction between education for the "governing class" and "working class".  

• Part 4 looks at the use of education, the Press, radio and Hollywood as forms of propaganda.  

• Part 5 examines the use of behaviorism, psycho-analysis and physiological manipulation as applied to education.

• Part 6 examines the application of scientific technique to the reproduction of human beings including the separate breeding techniques to be applied to the "governing class" compared with the "working class". This also includes the creation of a "priestly class" within the ruling governing class.  

• Part 7 explores the changes to freedom and equality in the scientific society. This includes changes in the relationship between individual freedom and the collective good, freedom of speech and the Press, freedom to choose ones own career and the freedom to have children. 

• Part 8 examines the changes to free trade and labor in the scientific. Including the removal of competition and the choice between pre-determined work or prison. 

• The final article describes the creation of two artificial societies including the design and implementation of a new religion specifically for that new planned society. The two societies described are: Japan following their 1867 revolution and Russia following the Bolshevik revolution.