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Harmed

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8 views

Harmed

Uploaded by

Abdul Nisar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Q.

“Since my subject is ideas that have harmed mankind, it is especially harmful


systems of beliefs that I shall consider.” How does Russell elaborate this
statement and how far do you agree with him?
Among the ideas that have harmed mankind, Russell first of all mentions a number of
superstitions connected with religion. It was supposed, for instance, that human sacrifice could
improve the crops. Then there was the religious belief that conquered races should completely
be exterminated and that even their cattle and sheep should not be spared. There was also the
superstitious belief held by Christian saints that the pagans and heretics would be subjected to
eternal tortures after death.
As a consequence of this belief, the saints avoided all the pleasures of the senses and found
satisfaction in the thought that those who did not have the same religious faith as they would
have to undergo unspeakable tortures in hell. In modem times, this particular Christian dogma
took a political shape. Both the German Nazis and the Russian communists demanded hard
work and self-sacrifice from their followers on the ground that those who did not follow their
political creed would either be killed or prisoned. Thus, these political dogmas, based on a false
belief, led to considerable torture and suffering.
Another false notion that has greatly harmed mankind is the importance which each individual
attaches to himself. Most of us believe that our own good or evil fortune is due to the
deliberate actions of other people. It was this state of mind that gave rise to the belief in
witchcraft and black magic. And this belief was responsible for much cruelty towards those who
were accused of being witches.
Russell next tells us that one of the most powerful sources of false belief is envy. Envy becomes
dangerous when it dominates the attitudes of nations towards one another. Envy may cause
a complete misconception of economic self-interest. The whole philosophy of economic
nationalism, which is now universal throughout the world, is based upon the false belief that
the economic interest of one nation is surely opposed to that of another. This false belief
produces international hatreds and rivalries and thus leads to war.
Pride is another passion which gives rise to false beliefs that are politically harmful. We have
the pride of nationality, the pride of race, the pride of sex, the pride of class, and the pride of
creed. All these kinds of pride are dangerous. For a long time the English people were brought
up to believe in the inherent superiority of their nation over the French. People of white races
regard themselves as superior to people of the coloured races. The Jews had, in ancient times, a
peculiar belief in their own racial superiority. Beliefs of this kind do infinite harm, and it should
be one of the aims of education to eradicate them. Russell’s analysis of the passion of pride also
has a sound psychological basis. Pride is something inherent in every human being. Pride takes
various forms, each of which has been illustrated by Russell with concrete examples. A feeling
of superiority is universal in this world. A complete sense of equality can never be enforced
among human beings
Yet another harmful belief results from the delusion which men and nations sometimes have
that they are the special instruments of the divine will. For instance, the Muslims have a
fanatical belief that every soldier dying in battle for his religious faith would go straight to
paradise where he will be entertained by beautiful houris. Cromwell believed himself to be the
divinely appointed instrument of justice for suppressing Catholics. In our times, the Marxists
think that they are the divinely appointed instruments for ensuring economic justice by killing
the capitalists and all those who disagree with the communist ideology. Hegel had attached
supremacy to Germany. Russell concludes this part of the argument by saying: “Most of the
greatest evils that man has inflicted upon man have come through people feeling quite certain
about something which, in fact, was false”.
Here Russell shows himself to be a strong opponent of dogmatism. What he really attacks here
is the stubborn, dogmatic beliefs of various kinds of people. In attacking various systems of
dogmatism, Russell gives evidence of his gifts of irony and satire. He ridicules those who
consider themselves either the chosen people of God or the divinely appointed instruments of
God’s will. He especially exposes the falseness of the claims of the Marxists. Russell appears
here to be a man of liberal ideas; he is not attached to any creed, and he is not fanatical about
any belief, Russell is not fanatical even in his advocacy of democracy which he really admires as
a form of government. For instance, he clearly says, towards the end of this essay, that the
democrat does not necessarily believe that democracy is the best system always and
everywhere. There are many nations, Russell rightly points out, which lack the moral qualities
and the political experience necessary for the success of parliamentary institutions.
Russell closes this essay with some very useful advice. Both in public and in private life. He says
that the important thing is tolerance and kindliness. Besides, the establishment of an
international government has become very necessary for the survival of civilization and for the
prevention of war. What the world needs today is (1) political, economic, and educational
organization; and (2) certain moral qualities, especially charity and tolerance instead of some
fanatical faith represented by an “ism”.

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