Education and the Good Life

Rating:
Summary: Surpisingly, not very dated
Review: It's sad how Russell's primary work in philosophy has become so badly outdated. Russell spent a decade on Principa Mathematica and it could be thought of as his major work, but how often is it bought or read? Logic and mathematics has gone beyond him since then. In the same way, so have education and social philosophy, but Russell takes on a number of prejudices that still exist to this day.

There are a few errors in Education and the Good Life and there are a few things I disagree with. Russell's idea of marriage surviving "brief episodes of infidelity" may never become the norm, for instance. But his complaints about Christianity are still apt if only we exchange "AIDS" for "syphilis" and "Catholicism" for "Christianity."

Surprisingly, many of the topics Russell covers were first touched upon by Rousseau, 165 years earlier. Comparing Education and the Good Life with Emile is rather interesting for a joyous little pendant like myself. The superstitions Russell covers have survived millenia and probably will survive the death even of the mighty Amazon.com; and Russell's advice will always be apt in some way or another.

I would recommend this book to anyone raising a child. In fact, when my sister gave birth for the first time, I ran out and found her a copy of Education and the Good Life. It is a perfect gift for any new mother or father.

Rating:
Summary: Surpisingly, not very dated
Review: It's sad how Russell's primary work in philosophy has become so badly outdated. Russell spent a decade on Principa Mathematica and it could be thought of as his major work, but how often is it bought or read? Logic and mathematics has gone beyond him since then. In the same way, so have education and social philosophy, but Russell takes on a number of prejudices that still exist to this day.

There are a few errors in Education and the Good Life and there are a few things I disagree with. Russell's idea of marriage surviving "brief episodes of infidelity" may never become the norm, for instance. But his complaints about Christianity are still apt if only we exchange "AIDS" for "syphilis" and "Catholicism" for "Christianity."

Surprisingly, many of the topics Russell covers were first touched upon by Rousseau, 165 years earlier. Comparing Education and the Good Life with Emile is rather interesting for a joyous little pendant like myself. The superstitions Russell covers have survived millenia and probably will survive the death even of the mighty Amazon.com; and Russell's advice will always be apt in some way or another.

I would recommend this book to anyone raising a child. In fact, when my sister gave birth for the first time, I ran out and found her a copy of Education and the Good Life. It is a perfect gift for any new mother or father.