The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1957-02-01

W
The name of Bertrand RUSSELL British mathematician
philosopher, not likely to live long in the aging annals of
preoccuped with the future Nor the fact that BR
that his fame M fame it be- will survive And this is quite
able since the Earl ripe 3d. is no believer in survival
The London Sunday Times every modern paper finds
filler for its columns by discussing very ancient questions DO
Men survive Dea'n! IS ne shappy & p auesun
NO" And why does Earl Russell MOI? Because he
thinks that mo" is scientific and Yes merely
emotional That's how Russell feels about it, that's his
emotional response
The of Earl Russell the first vapid statement
based upon the clches scientific and emotional
Any shyser command large following of emotional people
merely by asserting that his view the scientific view, and
that the opposed view emotional No evidence needed
just the plain statement Such the glitter and allure of the word
scientific to millions of people who wholly unable to furnish
an ineligible definition of the word.
would of course be useless point to B. Russell
and his kind the completely unscienc character of
ment which offers evidence whatever beyond the magic of
word accepted with supersuious awe by the general public
would be equally useless to mention the fact that the NO
to the question of human survival demands proof be
acceptable does not occur to the Earl that his inability to
"Ye" does cancel his need to the
validity of his 'No" answer.
In our generation scientific has unwarranted-
B limited the realm of the aboraoran and the experimental
list Really piece of knowledge to be called scientific there
is solid for it. the matter be incapable of abora
tory treatment For science truly knowledge for which
the furnish hoU and 0hy Using the scientific
in its current limited meaning Bertrand Russell has scientific
knowedge his own existence no scientific knowedg OF the
is scientific knowledge of what meant by human survival
truth that there rational science as as expert
mathematician like Russell should be the
first to acknowledge this truth, for mathematics
onal science So logic So the science of philosophical
psychology Nor rational science wholly divorced from
perimental SCIENCE could exist without
rational science Back of all the esube and ccorons back of
all the microscopes and mcroomes back of all the records
formulas and statistics the truly scientific but unestabe
knowledge of human thought human reason human ability
make experiments and to draw justified conclusions from
them.
Philosophical psychology affords the certain scientific
knowledge that is animated by spiritual soul; that
spiritual soul immortal that therefore the true to the
question, DO Men Survive Death" Bertrand Russells
resoundng No. but reasons resoundng Yes And the
sion of actually scientific is emotional all
Russell denial of human survival unscentc emotional
for it nothing whatever but what B. Russell feels
about the matter.
Russell thinks belief human survival is wishful
thinking Undoubtedly" says those we die
immense comfort to believe that shall them again
heaven But Earl Russell ignores the fact that many millions
OF sane people believe in survival with conviction at all that
everybody going to reach heaven He ignores fact the re
mendous thing called human responsibility and the ultimate
of human existence He thinks that the emotion which
promotes belief in human survival the pleasant emotion
Beautiful m Isle Of Somewhere for every child of Adam He
find comfort in the assurance of survival is indeed
tort to think that those we love- and who have led decent lives
will be with eternaly in heaven is not comfort realize
that of those love likely enough wind
other state and ocation is not comfort to realize that
ourselves unless pull the slack tend strictly to vr
Gus living are not going to be with anybody in heaven
Now belief in human survival even viewed emotionaly is
just among the millions believe hell
the millions who believe the
Beautiful Isle of Somewhere Here is emotion that far
from being IAN immense comfort" How would Russell
plain this emotion?
Russell suppose that "the universe takes
interest in hopes and Desires survive happily He
thinks I'VE have right the itself
to emotions 1T is plain then that Earl Russell regards he
universe wholly mpersona in its and under
personal control In word Russell does believe God
And yet despite the blind refusal materass to look
consider there nescapabe scientific proofs for exist
ence of God the apowerful agood ALLOWING, adjust al
wise Ruler of the universe.
The refusal to acknowledge the existence not
scientific but in the full emotional Apart gift Of
divine faith which is infused the Christian soul
there is absolute evidence for the natural scientific conviction
of the existence of God and many attributes reject
such evidence without considering nothing prdefu
petulance, and this is sheer emotion
Bible alone is the ton the law requiring bur-
rule o