If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Copleston vs bertrand russell part 1 uploaded by riversonthemoon on jul 15, 2009 bbc radio third programme recording january 28, 1948. Coplestons history of philosophy series librarything. Bertrand russell apologetics thats what i mean by a contingent being. Think about who is more successful, why and make notes in the final column.
Creative commons attribution license reuse allowed view attributions. A history of philosophy, vol 8 book by frederick charles. The cosmological argument russell and copleston debate. Coplestons argument from contingency with responses from russell. Russells was a history of western philosophy, a huge commercial success and regularly recommended in where to beginthreads in rphilosophy. I dont admit the connotations of such a term as contingent or the possibility of explanation in father coplestons sense. 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. Jesuit priest frederick copleston and analytic philosopher bertrand russell each authored their own history of philosophy book. From these facts philosophers infer deductively, inductively, or abductively. 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. 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. This is an excerpt from the full broadcast from cassette tape a3035 open university course, problems of.
This debate was a third programmme broadcast of the british broadcasting corporation in 1948. Copleston in which they discussion the contingency version of the cosmological argument. What is your opinion on frederick coplestons multivolume. Copleston which centred on the cosmological argument. This is an excerpt from the full broadcast from cassette tape a3035 open university course, problems of philosophy units 78. The coplestonrussell debate is an exchange concerning the existence of god between frederick copleston and bertrand russell in a 1948 bbc radio broadcast. Transcript of the full debate available at 201203debateonexistenceofgodbybertrand. A history of philosophy series by frederick charles copleston. Russell and copleston debate introduction to philosophy.
Russell, bertrand and frederick copleston, 1948, debate on the. Copleston, an oxford jesuit of immense erudition who once tangled with a. A debate on the existence of god bertrand russell hereafter r. Copleston jesuit catholic priest versus bertrand russell. 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.
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. Usage public domain topics existence of god, bertrand, russell, frederick, copleston, theology, proof, christianity. The debate that took place has become one of the most famous moments in radio history. Robert m price exposes william lane craig part 1 of 2 duration. 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. Copleston catholic priest and religious believer and bertrand russell philosopher and nonbeliever, broadcast in 1948 on the bbc. He studied and lectured at heythrop college and wrote an elevenvolume history of philosophy, which is highly respected.
Frederick copleston, sj 19071994, england history of philosophy, metaphysics, philosophy of religion the russellcopleston debate apr. April 10, 2007 will mark the centenary of the birth of frederick charles copleston, s. Coplestons argument is based on a combination of aquinas 3rd way and leibnizs principle. Order the critiques and match with where russell attacks the argument\n4.
This extract is a transcript a writtendown version of a recording of a famous radio debate between the catholic priest and philosopher f. Modern philosophy, from the french revolution to sartre, camus, and levistrauss by frederick charles copleston 4. Bertrand russell 18721970, oxford philosophy of language, epistemology, mathematics, logic, etc. 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. Coplestons was the influential 11 volume history of philosophy. Copleston in 1947 there was an interesting debate between bertrand russell and f. Idealism in america, the pragmatist movement, the revolt against idealism by frederick copleston 8. Copleston catholic priest and religious believer and bertrand russell philosopher and non believer.
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. Copleston and bertrand russell broadcast in 1948 on the third program of the british broadcasting corporation. A debate on the argument from contingency father f. 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. The copleston, russell debate coplestons cosmological argument 1948 bbc radio debate 2. Bertrand russell and frederick copleston discuss the socalled. Frederick charles copleston quotes author of a history of. Both philosophers are trying to use their intellect to win the argument.
Published in humanitas manchester and reprinted in bertrand russell, why i am not a christian london. Below is an excerpt from a debate between bertrad russell and father f. 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. The copleston russell debate is an exchange concerning the existence of god between frederick copleston and bertrand russell in a 1948 bbc radio broadcast. 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. The central question they are debating here is whether it is meaningful to ask about the cause of a series. 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. Frederick copleston primary author only author division. Historico debate entre bertrand russell y frederick copleston subtitulado duration.
From the french revolution to sartre, camus, and levistrauss by frederick copleston. He later became a jesuit and then pursued a career in academia. Everyone who doubts knows that he is doubting, so that he is certain of this truth at least, namely the fact that he doubts. The whole thing can be found here along with audio.
Frederick copleston claims that to look for a profound philoso phy of religion in his bertrand russells writing, would be to look in vain. Cosmological argument stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Yet copleston admits his argument is based on a posteriori grounds, or what leibniz called truths of fact. He was raised in an anglican home but converted to catholicism while a student at marlborough college. In 1947, two great philosophers took to the airwaves to debate the existence of god. A history of philosophy by copleston, frederick charles. 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. What is the main message between the moral argument. 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.
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. As is noted by the encyclopedia britannica, the work became a standard introductory philosophy text for thousands of university students, particularly in its u. Here is the famous debate on the existence of god between frederick copleston and bertrand russell. 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. Copleston is an absolutist, whereas russell is a relativist, although they both emphasize that they are not at the extremes. Teacherled lesson designed for ocr as with opportunity for. 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. In a modern introduction to dentreves, alexander p. Frederick copleston is currently considered a single author. Whether russell was an agnostic or atheist is a question he had previously addressed in 1947. Copleston 1907 1994 was a jesuit priest who was professor of history of philosophy at heythrop college, london. Copleston and bertrand russell squared off on bbc radio for a debate on the existence of god. Bbc radio third programme recording january 28, 1948. An analysis of sanjuanist teaching and its philosophical implications for russell, bertrand, and copleston, frederick c.
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. A history of philosophy by frederick copleston a history of philosophy in 9 volumes frederick copleston on. Bertrand russell, agnostic philosopher a history of philosophy. This extract is a transcript of a radio debate between f. An image book published by doubleday a division of bantam doubleday dell publishing group, inc.
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