In the metaphysical part, which is presented here, copleston espouses. Russell maintained that while he was technically agnostic. Infinite regress cosmos ex nihilo a posteriori inductive you will need your text books to help you answer these first questions. This extract is a transcript of a radio debate between f. Below is an excerpt from a debate between bertrad russell and father f. Bentham to russell, part 1, british empiricism and the idealist. The bertrand russell society russell research resources. Frederick copleston, sj 19071994, england history of philosophy, metaphysics, philosophy of religion the russellcopleston debate apr. The copleston, russell debate coplestons cosmological argument 1948 bbc radio debate 2. A debate on the argument from contingency father f. Well, my position is the affirmative position that such a being actually exists, and that his existence can be proved philosophically. Bertrand russell transcript of the full debate available at. Copleston vs bertrand russell part 1 uploaded by riversonthemoon on jul 15, 2009 bbc radio third programme recording january 28, 1948.
Copleston and bertrand russell broadcast in 1948 on the third program of the british broadcasting corporation. His response that perception of moral values can be likened to our perception of colour seems very weak to me, and contradicts his own statements on his experience as a juror in the nuremberg war crimes trials, when he said. Well, in 1948 the bbc third programme brought together frederick copleston and bertrand russell to debate, live on radio, issues to do with the existence of god. However, the debate would tip to the side of russell in that he was defending a position that said less and hence. Pl30 the moral argument suffolk county community college. The cosmological argument russell and copleston debate 1. In 1948 there was a famous radio debate between fr frederick copleston sj and the agnostic philosopher bertrand russell. Russell and copleston debate introduction to philosophy. Russell however refused to accept the notion of a necessary being as one that cannot be thought of not existing, and concluded that the regress of causal events could not be held. Copleston in 1947 there was an interesting debate between bertrand russell and f.
Published in humanitas manchester and reprinted in bertrand russell, why i am not a christian london. However, in the 1948 bbc radio debate between bertrand russell and frederick copleston, russell chose to assume the position of the agnostic, though it seems to have been because he admitted to not being able to prove the nonexistence of god. Andrew luers b1 copleston vs russell essay coplestons argument is based on aquinas third way from possibility and necessity and the principle of sufficient reason. Copleston which centred on the cosmological argument. February 17, 2015 february 17, 2015 justfootnotestoplato in 1948 bertrand russell a technically agnostic philosopher and f. The copleston russell debate is an exchange concerning the existence of god between frederick copleston and bertrand russell in a 1948 bbc radio broadcast. According to graham oppy and nick trakakis, the arguments used in this debate would typify the arguments presented by theists and atheists in. The moral argument pro and con from the existence of god. What is the main message between the moral argument. Usage public domain topics existence of god, bertrand, russell, frederick, copleston, theology, proof, christianity. Bertrand russell and frederick copleston discuss the socalled argument from contingency, a kind of cosmological argument for gods. Copleston and bertrand russell squared off on bbc radio for.
This debate was a third programmme broadcast of the british broadcasting corporation in 1948. Bertrand russell on the science v religion debate clare. A debate bertrand russell 18721970 was a leading figure of contemporary british philosophy. I just read the moral argument between bertrand russell and frederick c. The cosmological argument russell and copleston debate. Here is the famous debate on the existence of god between frederick copleston and bertrand russell. He asks us to view the world as objects which do not contain the answer for their own existence within themselves. Empiricism and the idealist movement in great britain frederick copleston. His contributions to modern thought lie in a number ofareas ranging from scientific and logical treatises to. Historico debate entre bertrand russell y copleston subtitulado you say that the series of events needs no explanation. Copleston was educated at marlborough college from 1920 to 1925. A history of philosophy, volume 8, modern philosophy. Buy a cheap copy of a history of philosophy, vol 2. Copleston went on to debate religious language with his friend, the philosopher a.
He uses the example of depending on his own parents and now food and air. S mill, philosophical implications from darwins work, herbert spencer idealism, pragmatism, g. The debate that took place has become one of the most famous moments in radio history. Preliminariesthe debate bertrand russell 18721970, oxford philosophy of language, epistemology, mathematics, logic, etc. A debate on the existence of god bertrand russell hereafter r. Debate bertrand russell copleston pdf on january 28, the british philosophers f. Broadcast in 1948 on the third program of the british broadcasting corporation. A superb addition to coplestons a history of philosophy. What is the main message between the moral argument between betrand russell and frederick c.
Frederick charles copleston was born 10 april 1907 near taunton, somerset, england. Copleston proposed his cosmological argument in a famous bbc radio debate with bertrand russell. Bbc radio third programme recording january 28, 1948. Copleston and bertrand russell squared off on bbc radio for a debate on the existence of god. This extract is a transcript a writtendown version of a recording of a famous radio debate between the catholic priest and philosopher f.
Because of russells unequalled fame acquired through his prolific writ. Copleston 1907 1994 was a jesuit priest who was professor of history of philosophy at heythrop college, london. So, what is this epic battle between copleston and russell that i speak of. Radio debate between copleston and russell 1948 hokmah. The coplestonrussell debate is an exchange concerning the existence of god between frederick copleston and bertrand russell in a 1948 bbc radio. Debate entre bertrand russell y copleston pdf moral psychology and ethical theory. Creative commons attribution license reuse allowed view attributions. Conceived originally as a serious presentation of the development of philosophy for catholic seminary students, frederick coplestons ninevolume a history of.
Archived from the original on 22 june russell however found both arguments unconvincing. Copleston in which they discussion the contingency version of the cosmological argument. It is these religious writings, which display without a doubt a marked sophisticated naivete,10 that will serve as the focal point of this paper. In the first section, the argument from contingency, copleston argues that god must exist because the universe requires a necessary being to explain it, but russell argues that the universe is a brute. Copleston catholic priest and religious believer and bertrand russell philosopher and nonbeliever, broadcast in 1948 on the bbc. Copleston vs russell essay andrew luers b1 copleston vs. This is an excerpt from the full broadcast from cassette tape a3035 open university course, problems of philosophy units 78. If you know are looking for the scrap book pdf as the other of reading, you can. Both philosophers are trying to use their intellect to win the argument. Historico debate entre bertrand russell y frederick. He was raised in the anglican faithhis uncle, reginald stephen copleston, was an anglican bishop of calcutta.
I recently read a debate between the british historian of philosophy frederick copleston also a jesuit and the british philosopher bertrand russell. The whole thing can be found here along with audio. This is an excerpt from the full broadcast from cassette tape a3035. Russell refused to accept the idea of necessary beings. The central question they are debating here is whether it is meaningful to ask about the cause of a series. The philosophers staunch criticism of religion echoes modern atheists, but he was also profoundly moved by a mystic insight mon 25 nov 20 04. In 1947, two great philosophers took to the airwaves to debate the existence of god. Some basic background in philosophy will definitely enhance your reading experience. The debate between russell and copleston focuses chiefly on the version of the cosmological argument that takes as its point of departure contin. As we are going to discuss the existence of god, it might perhaps be as well to come to some provisional agreement as to what we understand by the term god.
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