Free Thought and Official Propaganda

A new edition of Bertrand Russell's classic 1922 written treatise based on his monumental lecture on "Free Thought and Official Propaganda," delivered as the Conway Memorial Lecture at the South Place Institute on March 24, 1922. The work stresses the importance of unrestricted freedom of expression in society, and the problem of the state and political class interfering in this through control of education, fines, economic leverage, and distortion of evidence. Building upon William James's work regarding the "will to believe," this treatise contains Russell's famous call that "what we need is not the will to believe, but the wish to find out."<br/><br/>Bertrand Arthur William Russell (1872-1970) was a renowned British philosopher, mathematician, social critic, and political activist. He is widely considered one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century and is best known for his contributions to the fields of logic, mathematics, and the philosophy of language. Born in Wales to an aristocratic family, Russell demonstrated an aptitude for mathematics from a young age and was educated at Cambridge University, where he studied mathematics and philosophy. He soon became a professor of philosophy and wrote extensively on a variety of topics, including logic, language, ethics, and metaphysics. His most influential works include The Principles of Mathematics (1903), The Problems of Philosophy (1912), and An Inquiry into Meaning and Truth (1940). Throughout his life, Russell remained active in politics and was an outspoken advocate for social justice. He was especially critical of the Cold War, nuclear weapons, and oppressive regimes. His work in philosophy and activism earned him numerous awards and accolades, including the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Russell was also a prolific writer, producing numerous books and essays on a wide range of topics. He continued to write and lecture well into his 90s and died in 1970 at the age of 98. His legacy continues to live on, with his work continuing to inspire future generations of philosophers and social activists.