Icarus or the Future of Science

by Bertrand Russell

Today and Tomorrow

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Mr. Haldane's Daedalus has set forth an attractive picture of the future as it may become through the use of scientific discoveries to promote human happiness. Much as I should like to agree with his forecast, a long experience of statesmen and governments has made me somewhat sceptical. I am compelled to fear that science will be used to promote the power of dominant groups, rather than to make men happy. Icarus, having been taught to fly by his father Daedalus, was destroyed by his show more rashness. I fear that the same fate may overtake the populations whom modern men of science have taught to fly. show less

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leigonj From the same series, the authors approach the same questions.

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3 reviews
Like Haldane's book that preceded this one, not an easy read. This one spends more time on a "negative" view of the impact influence of science on society. Both books bring up eugenics, which is pretty much dead these days.
a facsimile reprint of the 1st edition of Russell's book of 1924, in which he answered J B. S. Haldane's Daedalus, an optimistic lecture on the future of Silence

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432+ Works 39,608 Members
Bertrand Arthur William Russell (1872-1970) was a British philosopher, logician, essayist and social critic. He was best known for his work in mathematical logic and analytic philosophy. Together with G.E. Moore, Russell is generally recognized as one of the main founders of modern analytic philosophy. Together with Kurt Gödel, he is regularly show more credited with being one of the most important logicians of the twentieth century. Over the course of a long career, Russell also made contributions to a broad range of subjects, including the history of ideas, ethics, political and educational theory, and religious studies. General readers have benefited from his many popular writings on a wide variety of topics. After a life marked by controversy--including dismissals from both Trinity College, Cambridge, and City College, New York--Russell was awarded the Order of Merit in 1949 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950. Noted also for his many spirited anti-nuclear protests and for his campaign against western involvement in the Vietnam War, Russell remained a prominent public figure until his death at the age of 97. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

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Original publication date
1924
Original language
English

Classifications

Genres
Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Philosophy, General Nonfiction
DDC/MDS
508.1Natural sciences & mathematicsScienceNatural history
LCC
Q171 .R96ScienceScience (General)General
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82
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389,447
Reviews
2
Rating
½ (3.39)
Languages
Dutch, English, French, Spanish
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
11
ASINs
12