A Summary of the Essay, Ideas That Have Harmed Mankind by Bertrand Russell
(10) “Ideas That Have Harmed Mankind”
The Harm Done by Evil Passions
The misfortunes of human beings have their main source in evil passions rather than in ideas or beliefs. People in the past enjoyed the spectacles of cruelty such as the burning of heretics, and many people even today find the brutalities of war to be enjoyable. Men’s cruel impulses can do tremendous harm to them.
The Harm Done by Christian Asceticism and by Political Asceticism
As for ideas and beliefs, much harm has been done by religious superstitions. Even Christian saints, who practised asceticism, found pleasure in the thought that sinners would be subjected to great tortures in the next life. Nowadays Christian asceticism has given way to political asceticism. Communism, for instance, teaches its followers to sacrifice all pleasures and to live a life of hard work and toil because those who do not do so have to be either liquidated or put in concentration camps.
Cruelty Resulting from the Belief in Witchcraft
The feeling that much of our suffering is due to the ill-will of other people led to the belief in witchcraft, and this belief was responsible for much cruelty towards those who were accused of being witches.
Envy and War
Envy is one of the most powerful sources of false belief. In the international sphere, envy has led to he philosophy of economic nationalism. And this false belief becomes a cause of war.
The Suffering Caused by Pride
Another passion which gives rise to false beliefs that are politically harmful is pride—pride of nationality, pride of race, pride of sex, pride of class, and pride of creed. All these kinds of pride lead to tremendous injustice and suffering.
A Delusion
Yet another harmful belief results from the delusion which men and nations sometimes have that they are the special instruments of the divine will.
The Need of Tolerance and of an International Government
Russell closes this essay with some very useful advice. Both in public and in private
The Harm Done by Evil Passions
The misfortunes of human beings have their main source in evil passions rather than in ideas or beliefs. People in the past enjoyed the spectacles of cruelty such as the burning of heretics, and many people even today find the brutalities of war to be enjoyable. Men’s cruel impulses can do tremendous harm to them.
The Harm Done by Christian Asceticism and by Political Asceticism
As for ideas and beliefs, much harm has been done by religious superstitions. Even Christian saints, who practised asceticism, found pleasure in the thought that sinners would be subjected to great tortures in the next life. Nowadays Christian asceticism has given way to political asceticism. Communism, for instance, teaches its followers to sacrifice all pleasures and to live a life of hard work and toil because those who do not do so have to be either liquidated or put in concentration camps.
Cruelty Resulting from the Belief in Witchcraft
The feeling that much of our suffering is due to the ill-will of other people led to the belief in witchcraft, and this belief was responsible for much cruelty towards those who were accused of being witches.
Envy and War
Envy is one of the most powerful sources of false belief. In the international sphere, envy has led to he philosophy of economic nationalism. And this false belief becomes a cause of war.
The Suffering Caused by Pride
Another passion which gives rise to false beliefs that are politically harmful is pride—pride of nationality, pride of race, pride of sex, pride of class, and pride of creed. All these kinds of pride lead to tremendous injustice and suffering.
A Delusion
Yet another harmful belief results from the delusion which men and nations sometimes have that they are the special instruments of the divine will.
The Need of Tolerance and of an International Government
Russell closes this essay with some very useful advice. Both in public and in private