Bertrand Russell was a British mathematician who voiced his concerns about the onset of nuclear war in the mid-20th century. During that time, peace movements and the advocacy of free thought in Europe and America centered around resistance to war policies. Hippies, intellectuals, and activists laid new foundations for the preservation of peace and human rights. Alongside Noam Chomsky and other humanist philosophers, Russell strongly opposed the use of nuclear weapons as instruments of mass destruction.
War may be inevitable, but the proliferation of nuclear weapons by superpowers spells disaster. For Russell, humanity’s creative potential depends on its emotional state and awareness. Humans are capable of creating hell through anger and hatred, while heaven can be built through hope and kindness. Although Russell’s concept of peace remains somewhat abstract, his emphasis on reason and awareness must be highlighted as essential principles—especially for the leaders of powerful nations.
The kind of reason that can save humanity from catastrophe is one that governs human will. According to Russell, if reason is not nurtured through sound thinking, then whether nuclear weapons exist or not, humanity will hasten its own extinction. The desire for security and the urge to dominate are among the primary causes of war. These impulses, however, can be controlled by reason—shaped by the recognition of others’ existence and an awareness of a peaceful world.
- Dika Sri Pandanarihttps://lsfdiscourse.org/en/author/dika/
- Dika Sri Pandanarihttps://lsfdiscourse.org/en/author/dika/
