Usage public domain topics existence of god, bertrand, russell, frederick, copleston, theology, proof, christianity. This is an excerpt from the full broadcast from cassette tape a3035 open university course, problems of philosophy units 78. Think about who is more successful, why and make notes in the final column. This debate was a third programmme broadcast of the british broadcasting corporation in 1948. I have to say that, as a great admirer of russell, i thought his responses to copleston were not wholly satisfactory, particularly with respect to the following argument. The whole thing can be found here along with audio. Coplestons argument from contingency with responses from russell. A debate on the argument from contingency father f. Coplestons was the influential 11 volume history of philosophy. Bertrand russell and frederick copleston discuss the socalled. What is the main message between the moral argument.
Frederick charles copleston cbe sj 10 april 1907 3 february 1994 was a jesuit priest, philosopher, and historian of philosophy, best known for his influential. Throughout it all, copleston is mindful to keep the reader aware of the overarching story each thinker he broaches is brought up in a regard as a response to, or elaboration on, another thinker. Copleston 1907 1994 was a jesuit priest who was professor of history of philosophy at heythrop college, london. Russell, bertrand and frederick copleston, 1948, debate on the. From the french revolution to sartre, camus, and levistrauss by frederick copleston. Copleston says that it is not the specific morals themselves that are absolute, but rather the very existence of morals which, according to him, would only make sense if there is a god. Bertrand russell apologetics thats what i mean by a contingent being. A debate on the existence of god bertrand russell hereafter r.
April 10, 2007 will mark the centenary of the birth of frederick charles copleston, s. Bertrand russell a history of western philosophy and its connection with political and social circumstances from the earliest times to the present day simon and schuster, new york all rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form copyright, 1945, by bertrand russell published by simon and. This extract is a transcript a writtendown version of a recording of a famous radio debate between the catholic priest and philosopher f. A history of philosophy by frederick copleston a history of philosophy in 9 volumes frederick copleston on. The copleston, russell debate coplestons cosmological argument 1948 bbc radio debate 2. The copleston russell debate is an exchange concerning the existence of god between frederick copleston and bertrand russell in a 1948 bbc radio broadcast. The coplestonrussell debate is an exchange concerning the existence of god between frederick copleston and bertrand russell in a 1948 bbc radio broadcast. What is your opinion on frederick coplestons multivolume. The central question they are debating here is whether it is meaningful to ask about the cause of a series. Frederick charles copleston, sj, cbe 10 april 1907 3 february 1994 was a jesuit priest, philosopher, and historian of philosophy, best known for his influential multivolume history of philosophy 194675 copleston achieved a degree of popularity in the media for debating the existence of god with bertrand russell in a celebrated 1948 bbc broadcast. 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. Coplestons argument is based on a combination of aquinas 3rd way and leibnizs principle. Frederick charles copleston cbe sj lahir di taunton, inggris, 10 april 1907 meninggal di london, inggris, 3 februari 1994 pada umur 86 tahun adalah seorang pendeta yesuit, filsuf dan sejarawan filsafat, yang dikenal karena membuat sebuah karya berjudul a history of philosophy 194674 copleston meraih ketenaran di media karena berdebat soal keberadaan tuhan.
The principle of sufficient reason in order to understand the debate between russell and coplestone you need to be aware of leibnizs principle of sufficient reason. If you already have a general idea of who the big names in the history of philosophy are, what their basic ideas were, and have a working knowledge of the broad shape of european history, the copleston history is an excellent work for filling out the gaps of the minor figures, some social influences, seeing how various folks relate to each. Published in humanitas manchester and reprinted in bertrand russell, why i am not a christian london. I think logic is an essential part of philosophy and logic has to be used in philosophy, and in that i think he and i are at one. Frederick copleston claims that to look for a profound philoso phy of religion in his bertrand russells writing, would be to look in vain. Order the critiques and match with where russell attacks the argument\n4. Copleston vs bertrand russell part 1 uploaded by riversonthemoon on jul 15, 2009 bbc radio third programme recording january 28, 1948. Everyone who doubts knows that he is doubting, so that he is certain of this truth at least, namely the fact that he doubts. He later became a jesuit and then pursued a career in academia. Russell and copleston debate introduction to philosophy. Thus every one who doubts whether there is such a thing as truth, knows at least one truth, so that his very capacity to doubt should convince him that there is such a thing as truth. Bertrand russell 18721970, oxford philosophy of language, epistemology, mathematics, logic, etc. In a modern introduction to dentreves, alexander p. Copleston which centred on the cosmological argument.
Copleston and bertrand russell broadcast in 1948 on the third program of the british broadcasting corporation. We both know, at any rate, one very eminent modern thinker whose knowledge of modern logic was profound, but who certainly did not think that metaphysics are meaningless or, in particular, that the problem of god is meaningless. Frederick copleston is currently considered a single author. Frederick copleston, sj 19071994, england history of philosophy, metaphysics, philosophy of religion the russellcopleston debate apr. In 1947, two great philosophers took to the airwaves to debate the existence of god. Bertrand russell, agnostic philosopher a history of philosophy. A history of philosophy, vol 8 book by frederick charles. Coplestons history of philosophy series librarything. He was raised in an anglican home but converted to catholicism while a student at marlborough college. Cosmological argument stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Frederick charles copleston quotes author of a history of.
Modern philosophy, from the french revolution to sartre, camus, and levistrauss by frederick charles copleston 4. This extract is a transcript of a radio debate between f. Conceived originally as a serious presentation of the development of philosophy for catholic seminary students, frederick coplestons ninevolume a history of philosophy has journeyed far beyond the modest purpose of its author to universal acclaim as the best history of philosophy in english. Russells was a history of western philosophy, a huge commercial success and regularly recommended in where to beginthreads in rphilosophy.
Copleston catholic priest and religious believer and bertrand russell philosopher and nonbeliever, broadcast in 1948 on the bbc. Copleston is an absolutist, whereas russell is a relativist, although they both emphasize that they are not at the extremes. This is an excerpt from the full broadcast from cassette tape a3035 open university course, problems of. Creative commons attribution license reuse allowed view attributions. Copleston and bertrand russell squared off on bbc radio for a debate on the existence of god. An analysis of sanjuanist teaching and its philosophical implications for russell, bertrand, and copleston, frederick c. Robert m price exposes william lane craig part 1 of 2 duration. The cosmological argument russell and copleston debate. A history of philosophy by copleston, frederick charles. As is noted by the encyclopedia britannica, the work became a standard introductory philosophy text for thousands of university students, particularly in its u. He studied and lectured at heythrop college and wrote an elevenvolume history of philosophy, which is highly respected.
Below is an excerpt from a debate between bertrad russell and father f. Whether russell was an agnostic or atheist is a question he had previously addressed in 1947. I recently read a debate between the british historian of philosophy frederick copleston also a jesuit and the british philosopher bertrand russell. You have to imagine, in 1948 this was probably a very exciting thing and everyone and their dog would be gathering around the wireless to listen in on these two dudes having an argument. A history of philosophy series by frederick charles copleston.
Copleston in which they discussion the contingency version of the cosmological argument. Jesuit priest frederick copleston and analytic philosopher bertrand russell each authored their own history of philosophy book. A history of philosophy is a history of western philosophy written by the english jesuit priest frederick charles copleston originally published in nine volumes between 1946 and 1975. Historico debate entre bertrand russell y frederick copleston subtitulado duration. Idealism in america, the pragmatist movement, the revolt against idealism by frederick copleston 8. Yet copleston admits his argument is based on a posteriori grounds, or what leibniz called truths of fact.
I dont admit the connotations of such a term as contingent or the possibility of explanation in father coplestons sense. Both philosophers are trying to use their intellect to win the argument. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Teacherled lesson designed for ocr as with opportunity for. An image book published by doubleday a division of bantam doubleday dell publishing group, inc. 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. Here is the famous debate on the existence of god between frederick copleston and bertrand russell. Bbc radio third programme recording january 28, 1948. From these facts philosophers infer deductively, inductively, or abductively. Copleston catholic priest and religious believer and bertrand russell philosopher and non believer. 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. The debate that took place has become one of the most famous moments in radio history. 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.
Copleston, an oxford jesuit of immense erudition who once tangled with a. Copleston in 1947 there was an interesting debate between bertrand russell and f. According to graham oppy and nick trakakis, the arguments used in this debate would typify the arguments presented by theists and atheists in. Frederick copleston primary author only author division. Transcript of the full debate available at 201203debateonexistenceofgodbybertrand. Copleston jesuit catholic priest versus bertrand russell.
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