The Place of Science in a Liberal Education by Bertrand Russell (Critical Analysis of the Essay for ADP/B.Sc English Students)

Critical Analysis of the Essay "The Place of Science in a Liberal Education" for ADP/B.Sc English Students

The Place of Science in a Liberal Education by Bertrand Russell
(Critical Analysis of the Essay for ADP/B.Sc English Students) 

Bertrand Russell , 3rd Earl Russell , a British Philosopher and mathematician. He contributed  to the development of modern mathematical logic and wrote about social issues. His famous works includes “Principia Mathematica”. Russell studies mathematics and philosophy at Trinity College. He is  a modern thinker as well as a philosopher.

Bertrand Russell in his essay “The Place of Science in a Liberal Education” defines EDUCATION “as the formation , by means of instruction , of certain mental habits and a certain outlook on life and the world”. In this essay he laments that people have not understood the true meanings of science. They are just dominated by the inventions and discoveries of science. They know science through its inventions such as telegraph , wireless , aero planes and marvels of modern alchemy. The increasing command over the forces of nature by science has great importance for them. Russell says that the importance of science cannot be the realized through its inventions.  

In broader sense , education includes not only what we learn through instruction but also all that we learn in the field of formation of our character. In narrow sense Education is confined to the instruction of one or more subjects. Life is a great school of learning , so we educate ourselves through experience and observation. It is thus the EDUCATION that inculcates certain mental habits and the peculiar outlook on life in us.

According to Bertrand Russell , “Education of science can do much in such a formation of any mental habit and intellectual outlook on life.”

He is of the view that it is the true spirit of scientific thinking which is more important than the scientific discoveries. Russell gives us the example of three famous scientists , Faraday , Maxwell and Hertz,  who possessed the true scientific spirit and scientific habit of mind.    

These scientists built up the identity of light with electromagnetism and demonstrated the identity of light with electromagnetic waves. Russell tells us that Liberal education is considered superior to education based on science by thinkers and scientists. The men of science also respect culture. According to Russell , these modern thinkers and scientists are mistaken. It is the wrong teaching of science which has made these thinkers feel inferior before the advocates of Liberal Education. He says that science should be taught in rational manner.

According to Russell , the Classical Education or Arts deals with man’s personal aspirations , ambitions and dreams. There is no definite knowledge in Classical Education as our thinking about the different problems of man’s life is changeable.

Classical education deals with the past. It makes us criticize the present and the future. It loves and admires the past writers, novelists and the poets. Classical Education does not deal with the present. Whereas the scientific education is based on scientific habit of mind. It is exact and definite. In science we use measurement , calculation and experimentation. A scientists does not deal with his own desires and ambitions. He is detached in his works. Objectivity is there. A scientist observes the facts of life objectively. Whereas classical education does not make us objective in our thinking.

According o Russell , the aim of Education develops our natural abilities. It redefines our mind. It should also control the forceful and mighty powers of desire. It can civilize us. Education teaches us wisdom. An educated man increases his wisdom by making his contact with the outsider world. Such a person has eh knowledge of past and his eyes on the future. It also develops our understanding in objective and unemotional manner. The aim of EDUCTION is promoted by science.

Moreover Russell says that Science is superior to Literature in two ways. i. Hopefulness to future ii. The scientific outlook.

Scientific method aims to investigate the matter in an objective manner. It shuns personal feelings and emotions. Literature is the expression of personal feelings and emotions , liking and disliking. So scientific method is superior to Literature in its objectivity and impersonality.   

Russell also tells us about the difference between Science and Philosophy. He is of the view that philosophy cannot become scientific as it is coloures with the philosophers personal feelings and desires. So Philosophy has subjectivity not the objectivity. A philosopher expresses his own views and outlook about the different problems of life.

Russell gives us the example if Aristotle , who could not make the scientific enquiry into the working of the universe. His theories were inspired by personal feelings. As he said that heavenly bodies move in circular paths. He accepted the Geo Centric approach. It was a wrong conclusion on his part.

Galileo was the first inventor of scientific method. Then Malthus , in 18th century used scientific method. He considered man as the part of nature. And enquired objectively.

Philosophy has not attained a scientific attitude towards life. The scientific method sweeps away the subjectivity i.e. the personal feelings.