Remembering Bertrand Russell On His Birth Anniversary

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 19 May 2025 May 18th was the birth anniversary of Bertrand Russell. A programme was organised in Poona to discuss the life, philosophy and works of the legendary British polymath. Many of his thoughts and aphorisms were discussed and elucidated. In these times of raging wars and unabated violence, his pacifist and anti-war views were also highlighted. Mohan Kumar's Hindi movie 'Aman' (1967) was screened. Russell had a cameo appearance in the movie in which he's seen with the hero Rajendra Kumar. (From the Files) ----- One of his quotes was elaborated by many speakers: The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd. Bertrand Russell's quote, "The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd," challenges the notion that the popularity of an idea validates its credibility. He argues that the mere prevalence of a belief does not provide any substantial evidence to support its validity or logic. This quote reminds us that popularity can often be a result of various factors such as cultural influences, groupthink, or misinformation. It serves as a cautionary reminder to critically evaluate ideas regardless of how widely they may be accepted, emphasizing the importance of intellectual integrity and independent thinking. Fallacy of Majority and Fallacy of Duration help perpetuate an absurdity. We often erroneously think that since the majority has approved of something, it has to be right. Sorry, the majority is no guarantee. Masses are asses. If crores of people believe that there's some god up there in an obscure corner of the ether, that doesn't mean, it's irrefutably there. Majoritarian opinions should always be taken with une pincée de sel (a pinch of salt). Likewise, Fallacy of Duration also contributes to making us believe that because of the long duration and existence, something or a belief becomes an axiom or a given. Sorry, this is a fallacious perception. Kalidas writes in his play, Malvikaagnimitram, "Puranamityeva Na sadhu sarvam, Na chapi kavyam navamityavadyam" (Everything old is not good, nor is every thing new bad). The symposium on Russell ended with his very famous quote, "the whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so sure of themselves, and wiser people are so full of doubts." Bertrand Russell's quote sheds light on a poignant observation about human nature and the challenges it poses to the world. In this succinct yet profound statement, he highlights a fundamental problem within society - the unwavering confidence of fools and fanatics juxtaposed with the hesitations and doubts of wiser individuals. Russell suggests that foolishness and fanaticism often breed in individuals who hold steadfast beliefs without questioning their validity, leading to irrational actions and closed-mindedness. Conversely, those who possess wisdom and knowledge are more inclined to engage in critical thinking, acknowledging the complexity of the world and the limitations of their own understanding. By echoing this sentiment, Russell prompts us to recognize the detrimental impact that blind certainty and intellectual arrogance can have on societal progress, encouraging us to embrace humility and intellectual curiosity instead. The overconfidence of fools and fanatics doesn't allow healthy dialogues and discussions to thrive and survive. There's an Urdu maxim, 'Jahalat Humesha Zahanat Par Bhaari Padti Hai ' (Ignorance always eclipses intelligence). Utthe Na Ahtiyaat Mein Ahle-Khirad Ke Paaon/ Ahle-Junoon Toh Jhaad Kar Daaman Nikal Gaye (Wise ones being overcautious, hesitated to take a step/ The crazy ones came and 'accomplished' the task in a jiffy). ------- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/bertrand-russell-birth-anniversary/d/135573 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism