Evening star., 1927-10-19
RUSSELL PLEADS
FOR END TO WARS.
British Philosopher Holds
Peace May Come From
New Education.

A new objective Of education for
the world seems the only practical
way to end war, Bertrand Russell, dis.
tinguished British philosopher, said
last night at the Washington Audi.
torium.
Searching analysis OF the actual, not
apparent, causes OF war is essential
in planning this education. Mr.. Rus
sell said, and he ridiculed the idea
that desire for economic advantage or
idealism are fundamental in the arm
ed clash of nations.
There are three principles planted
in the human mind, he said, which
are actually the basis of war and these
must be rooted out by proper educa-
ton before any mechanical instrument
for world peace can have hope of sue
cess. The first of these, he said, is
love of power; second, the hunger of
hate; and third, the impulses Of sheer
cruelty.
Hatred Is Cowardice.
Love of power, he explained, is an
integral part of our mental makeup
and never can be uprooted by educa-
ton, but only directed to constructive
rather than destructive ends.
Hatred, he said, is another form of
cowardice and can be eliminated by
developing fearlessness in children.
whereas most schools today, with the
flag-waving tactics Of teachers and
the fervent1y patriotic text books, are
striving to develop towards. Once,
he explained, this hunger of hatred
was partly satisfied by hatred Of a
personal devil, but with broaden
ing Of religious ideas the fear of hell
had been greatly lessened. But with
minds so trained there must be
something to hate. so another nation
has been set up in place of the devil.
II think" he said. that it was
better to hate the devil than to hate
Germans. Psychology will tell you
that there Is a very narrow dividing
lire between intense rage and abject
fear. The more intense the anger
against the enemy, the nearer you
are to rank cowardice--a rather Curl
Gus paradox when we consider the
traditional linking of courage with
military operations"
The impulses of sheer cruelty, Mr..
Russell said, are in their extreme form
type of psychopathic disease, but in
milder forms the love Of seeing suffering
Is very widespread in the human race
and is largely the result of unhealthy
school days, which could largely be
eliminated by different teaching. ~
Patriotism Questioned.
The idea that nations fight for
economic advantage, Mr.. Russell said,
has been encouraged because even
selfishness is more respectable mo-
tive than the actual motives under.
lying war. "If you had a world where
people really acted from self-interest, "
he said, "you would be very near an
earthly paradise, because, after all, the
interests Of most people are pretty
much alike"
The philosopher questioned the vir-
tue Of patriotism, or blind devotion to
the state, which he said had grown up
largely because the education Of chill.
dren has been in the hands Of the
state. whose greatest object is to per.
petuate itself. The actual contribu-
tions to the betterment Of humanity
coming from any geographic section,
he said, have nothing to do with the
government Of that section.
Mr.. Russell suggested history text
book for international use composed
by an international committee. which
would be interested only in recordin q
the story Of the progress of mankind
and not in making out a case for any
geographic entity. He also advo.
| Gated type of education that would
look to training the individual to do
his own thinking rather than to act
as member Of a group.
Little Desire for Peace.
There seems little real desire for
peace in the world. the philosopher
| said, in spite of the fact that nearly
every one will say that he would like
| to see a way TO end war. but doesn't
| think 1t is practical. For this rea-
son. he pointed out, men who really
are striving to find a practical road
to peace are more or less boycotted
socially without consideration of the
work they have done.
| He deplored school training which
tends TO inculcate unthinking respect
for the flag. The flag of any coun-
try. he said. is simply the symbo
OF u geographical division Of the
earth. The really worthwhile things
OF that geogra phical unit. he insisted
inspire respect for themselves.
World peace built on the predomi-
nant power Of one State or group o.
States-such as might come from q
strong Anglo American alliance
might be practical for time. but
could not last more than century
before the structure was broker
down, he said.
Tenants of new apartment build
ing i'm West Sllrrpr EDoland are no