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Bertrand Russell's Unpopular Essays: The Future Of Mankind

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Bertrand Russell's Unpopular Essays: The Future Of Mankind
On Bertrand Russell’s Unpopular Essays: “The Future of Mankind” Philosopher, mathematician, political activist, pacifist, and genius are all labels that come into mind when discussing the works of Bertrand Russell. Some of his most popular writing comes from his book Unpopular Essays. A notable essay from his book is “The Future of Mankind”. He discusses several possibilities on how events (in most cases involving WW3) will play out in the upshot. Even though his essay was written around the beginning of the cold war it is logical to assume his predictions are still relevant today. His essay talks about the end of humanity, reversion to barbarism, and humanity under a single government. Bertrand Russell describes humanity’s …show more content…
”We all recognise the need to restrain murderers, and it is even more important to restrain murderous states,” he then mentions the need for stricter international laws (Russell 55). This is an issue that can be applied to current events; such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Though to what extent should these international laws be put in place? “What the world most needs is effective laws to control international relations”(Russell 55); a statement by Russell that is eerily relevant. He then calls for sufficient sanctions, which he claims can only be reached through the formation of a single armed force. “The Future of Mankind”, an essay published 65 years ago, which warns humanity of the possible horrific future outcomes, is still relevant despite being focused around the tension between the United States and Soviet Union. With references to the Roman Empire, Russell shows that history has an identifiable pattern. Bertrand Russell’s essay is an essay that should be looked upon today as an omen for mankind’s destructive path towards extinction, return to barbarism, and possibly civilization under the control of a single
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