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《Russell, Bertrand - Why I am a Rationalist》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在学术论文-天天文库。
1、WhyIamaRationalistBertrandRussellWhyIAmARationalistTheRationalHabitOfMindIsARareOneIam,inthisagewhenthereareagreatmanyappealstounreason,anunrepentantRationalist.IhavebeenaRationalisteversinceIcanremember,andIdonotproposetoceasetobesowhateverappealstounreasonmaybemade.Weha
2、velistenedtoaspeech,bywhichIthinkwewereallmuchmoved,aboutthepioneersinthepastwhohavedonewhattheycouldtopromotethecauseoffreedomofthought.Isupposeitisformetospeakaboutthegreatneedofcontinuingthisworkinourownday,andabouthowmuchthereisthatremainsforallwhosympathizewithitsobj
3、ectstoaccomplish.Wearenotyet,andIsupposemenandwomenneverwillbe,completelyrational.Perhaps,ifwewere,weshouldnothaveallthepleasuresthatwehaveatpresent;butIthinkcompleterationalityissodistantaprospectthatweneednotbemuchalarmedbyit,andthenearestapproachthatwearelikelytogetiss
4、uretobealltothegood.Icertainlyfindthatthereisaverygreatdealofirrationalitystillaboutintheworld.WhileProfessorGrahamWallaswasspeakingaboutthebequeststhathavebeenmadetotheRationalistPressAssociationIwasthinking:Whatisitscreed,whatisitsdogma,andwhatisgoingtobethe,sotospeak,d
5、octrinethatthesebenefactionsaregoingtobedevotedtopropagating?Youhave,ofcourse,tobealittlecareful,whenyoufindyourselflandedwithendowmentsandbenefactions,lestyoushouldbecomeanotherendowedchurch.(Laughter.)AsfarasIcansee,theviewtowhichwearecommitted,onewhichIhavestatedonafor
6、meroccasion,isthatweoughtnottobelieve,andweoughtnottotrytocauseotherstobelieve,anypropositionforwhichthereisnoevidencewhatever.Thatseemsamodestproposition,andifyoucansticktothatyouwillbefairlysurethatyouarenotgoingtobecomeasortofossifiedendowedchurch.Weoughtnottocommitour
7、selvestodogmaticnegationsanymorethantodogmaticaffirmations;weoughtmerelytosaythatthereareagreatmanypropositionsaboutwhichmenandwomenfeelprettycertain,but,concerningwhichtheyhavenorighttofeelcertain,anditisourbusinessasRationaliststotrytomakethemseethatthosethingsarenotcer
8、tain.Iamtoldthatthatisaverywickedpositiontomaintain.IhavehereabookrecentlypublishedwhichIcommend
