Research On Russell's Ethical Thought

As one of the greatest philosopher of 20^thcentury,Bertrand Russell has written abundant ethical works covering extensive fields.He also has made contributions in aspects like ethics of life,ethics of sex,political ethics,educational ethics,religious ethics and comparison between Chinese and Western civilizations.His profound and sagacious ethical thoughts are closely bound up with his colorful life experiences.Due to his noble family background and elements like the social background and philosophical tradition of his time,the spirit of suspicion,dual function of focusing on rationality and sensibility as well as ethnical ideological characteristics of daring to challenge social traditions in Russell are shaped.Based on the impulse of human being and the nature of desire,Russell’s ethical thought is in pursuit of freedom and genuine knowledge to achieve individual values and human happiness,which shows thick humanitarianism passion.Russell proposes impersonal life value pursuit and advocates the important value of idleness and happiness.He advises young people to rush out the barrier of“ego”,to set up right competition concept and face life with a free and progressive attitude.In marriage ethics,Russell boldly puts forward the idea of realizing the correct position of sex in life.He believes sexual desire should be satisfied appropriately and that a reasonable sexual morality with value ideas like“true love”,“freedom”and“equality”,“human nature”and“humanity”as centers should be developed.In educational ethics,Russell sticks to the idea of different objectives for different stages of education.According to the educational principle of fairness and justice,the ultimate goal for educational ethics should be cultivating young people’s favorable moral characters and boosting the achievement of individual values.In his religious and science ethical thoughts,Russell criticizes traditional religious morality for its constraint on humanity and obstruction to happy life without mercy.He also advocates scientific rationality and impartial spirit in morality,highlighting that morality is the method rather than the objective for creating a happy life;meanwhile,he reviews the influence of scientific and technological advance on human life.Finally,through the analysis on power,Russell puts forward that personal life is the ultimate foothold for political activities and expects to achieve universal happiness through the ideal social system of Guild Socialism.Russell’s thought of comparing Chinese and Western civilization also deserves attention.Through his personal experiences and research,he makes comparisons on three aspects:the origins of Chinese and Western civilization,features of morality and Chinese and Western national characteristics.He believes Chinese civilization is characterized by durability and containment and that Chinese morality is milder and more secular than that of the west.According to Russell,Chinese people are commended for their excellent qualities:they are happy with what they have;they are respectful and polite with self-esteem;they don’t seek fame or wealth.However,they also have disadvantages,such as greedy,cowardly and indifferent.Russell exhorts Chinese to maintain their cultural features and values and to critically absorb the development experience of western world when developing,which shows a positive enlightenment for the construction of the current cultural values in China.