Bertrand Russell’s work can be divided into two very different tendencies. On the one hand are his more technical and rigorous works, in which his thought stands out for its rational clarity, precision of analysis, and scientific rigor and seriousness, constituting his most valuable contribution to logic and to theories of knowledge and language. On the other hand are the writings Russell valued most highly: hundreds of free-ranging essays on a wide variety of human topics (moral beliefs, religion, education, politics, literature, social ideas, among others). This anthology prepared by Fernanda Navarro seeks to encompass this second aspect of Russell’s work, which includes the ideas and actions of a life devoted both to academic dialogue and to active protest against war in the noisy streets of London. Thus, this anthology is not a compilation of his most technical works (already available in various Spanish editions), but rather a selection of diverse texts that present a different facet of the author: that of the intellectual concerned with the moral, social, and pedagogical problems of contemporary humanity. These are rapidly written texts intended for wide dissemination and addressed not only to specialists but also to general readers.
In his political activity, as in his philosophy, Russell devoted himself to freeing both himself and others from the mystifying beliefs that oppress the masses. “This has been my life,” he once said. “I have found it worth living, and I would gladly live it again if I were given the opportunity.” This anthology therefore becomes an excellent introduction for readers who wish to delve into the work of a philosopher and scientist who was at the same time passionately devoted to criticizing his world.