Bertrand Russell’s 10 commandments of teaching
Posted by staff / May 2, 2012
In the December 16, 1951 issue of the New York Times, British philosopher/logician/ mathematician/historian (a quadruple thought leader threat) Bertrand Russell shared his ten commandments of teaching.
- Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.
- Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.
- Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.
- When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavor to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
- Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.
- Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.
- Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
- Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.
- Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.
- Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool’s paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness.
Via Swiss Miss.
As I read your post, I recall Neil Postman’s interview where he quoted Bertrand Russel on education. In response to a question on purpose of education, Neil Postman paraphrased, Education is necessary to defend oneself from the seductions of eloquence
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