Bertrand Russell On Education

Although scholars from many disciplines have turned their attention to Russell’s work and appraised its significance for a number of fields, and an extensive literature on him emerged, until this book, first published in 1963, no thorough study on Russell’s contribution to education – an area to which he devoted no small part of his energies – had yet appeared. The book is based on interviews with Russell as well as diligent research in his writings and the sources of his thought and will enlighten all who think seriously about education. It addresses specifically the usefulness of Russell’s thought for American educators, which was challenging as Russell dared to question traditional ends and means of education at the time.

1. Introduction 2. Some Aspects of Bertrand Russell’s Philosophy 3. Sources of Russell’s Theory of Education 4. The Church, the State, and the ‘Herd’ 5. Education and the Good Life 6. The Beacon Hill School 7. An Appraisal