Bertrand Russell

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Śyāmasundara: So this morning's philosopher is called Bertrand Russell. As we enter into this twentieth century, the philosophies become more and more complicated, more and more abstract. So it may be a little difficult to try to understand some of his ideas. [break]

Prabhupāda: Philosophy does not become complicated; the mode of living becoming complicated--from simplicity to complication. Otherwise everything is there. Just like by nature's law, the sunrise is not complicated. It is the same process [indistinct]. So we are making complicated things underneath the sun. So if we know what is life, then there is no complication. But they do not know. Especially the modern education, they are making things more and more complicated. Therefore the so-called philosophy is becoming complicated.

Śyāmasundara: Another difficulty with Bertrand Russell is that his philosophy changed. Many times throughout his life he changed his viewpoint.

Prabhupāda: That means he does not know what is philosophy. Philosophy cannot be changed. Just like hra-nidr-bhaya-maithunam--the four principles of life--eating, sleeping, mating... [aside:] Sit down here.

Devotee: I was watching the [indistinct].

Prabhupāda: All right. So they are eating--where is the change of philosophy? Eating philosophy is there. Sleeping philosophy is there. Why should change? What is fact, there is no need of changing. Imperfect knowledge changes. Perfect knowledge never changes. So he changes philosophy means his knowledge is imperfect.

Śyāmasundara: He comes in the tradition of the British empiricists, which believes that nothing outside of our senses can give us any knowledge. But still, he was never able to believe that simple mathematical principles like "Two plus equals four" are merely generalizations which we derive from our experience. He says that these things must be eternal principles, such as "Two plus two equals four."

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