It is not, however, worth the effort required to consume it. Copleston in 1947 there was an interesting debate between bertrand russell and f. Conceived originally as a serious presentation of the development of philosophy for catholic seminary students, frederick coplestons ninevolume a history of. Here is the famous debate on the existence of god between frederick copleston and bertrand russell. 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. Archived from the original on 22 june russell however found both arguments unconvincing. The famous 1948 bbc radio debate on the existence of god between fr. In 1948 there was a famous radio debate between fr frederick copleston sj and the agnostic philosopher bertrand russell.
Coplestons was the influential 11 volume history of philosophy. The one eminent modern thinker that copleston refers to is alfred north whitehead, who coauthored with bertrand russell their monumental work on logic, principia mathematica, 3 vols. A history of philosophy, 11 vols by frederick charles. Frederick copleston by bertrand russell and frederick copleston. Published in humanitas manchester and reprinted in bertrand russell, why i am not a christian london. Copleston keeps his cards very close to his chest, with the result that it. Frederick copleston is currently considered a single author.
Funeral service notice for the burial of douglas copleston eggar on 11th may 1992 at st lukes church, peckham, a4 paper halfed with writing back and front and inset, note at the rear of the programme. 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. Copleston 1907 1994 was a jesuit priest who was professor of history of philosophy at heythrop college, london. From the french revolution to sartre, camus, and levistrauss by frederick copleston. Historico debate entre bertrand russell y frederick copleston. Abstract, this admin june, 2019 june, 2019 no comments on debate bertrand russell copleston pdf. I recently read a debate between the british historian of philosophy frederick copleston also a jesuit and the british philosopher bertrand russell. This extract is a transcript of a radio debate between f. The debate between copleston and russel would typify the arguments presented between theists and atheists in the later half of the 20th century, with russells approach often used by atheists in the late 20th century. Frederick copleston primary author only author division. Historico debate entre bertrand russell y frederick.
The cosmological argument russell and copleston debate. The cosmological argument russell and copleston debate 1. This is an excerpt from the full broadcast from cassette tape a3035. Copleston which centred on the cosmological argument.
Which philosopher was copleston referring to in his debate. Pl30 the moral argument suffolk county community college. 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. A debate on the existence of god bertrand russell hereafter r.
Copleston catholic priest and religious believer and bertrand russell philosopher and nonbeliever, broadcast in 1948 on the bbc. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. His contributions to modern thought lie in a number ofareas ranging from scientific and logical treatises to critical analyses of religion, morals. This is only a few main parts, im not sure where to.
Russell refused to accept the idea of necessary beings. The whole thing can be found here along with audio. The central question they are debating here is whether it is meaningful to ask about the cause of a series. Excerpts from the famous 1948 bbc radio debate on the existence of god by the atheist philosopher bertrand russell and the jesuit f. Bertrand russell and frederick copleston discuss the socalled argument from contingency, a kind of cosmological argument for gods existence. A debate on the argument from contingency father f. Buy a cheap copy of a history of philosophy, vol 2. Bertrand russell on god and religion great books in. Infinite regress cosmos ex nihilo a posteriori inductive you will need your text books to help you answer.
Russell and copleston debate introduction to philosophy. Below is an excerpt from a debate between bertrad russell and father f. Coplestons history of philosophy series librarything. Three passions of bertrand russell and a collection of free texts. Russell maintained that while he was technically agnostic. Copleston, an oxford jesuit of immense erudition who once tangled with a.
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 multivolume a 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. Coplestons argument is based on a combination of aquinas 3rd way and leibnizs principle. Frederick copleston, the existence of god a debate with rus sell, why i am. An image book published by doubleday a division of bantam doubleday dell publishing group, inc.
Copleston vs bertrand russell part 1 uploaded by riversonthemoon on jul 15, 2009 bbc radio third programme recording january 28, 1948. Both philosophers are trying to use their intellect to win the argument. Russells insistence on accuracy when using terms of modern logic might seem to be a refusal to even enter into a debate with copleston, but it does raise a valid point. 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. A debate bertrand russell 18721970 was a leading figure of contemporary british philosophy. Jesuit priest frederick copleston and analytic philosopher bertrand russell each authored their own history of philosophy book. Bertrand russell and frederick copleston discuss the socalled argument from contingency, a kind of cosmological argument for gods. And not having free will we cannot have immortality i do. The coplestonrussell debate is an exchange concerning the existence of god between frederick copleston and bertrand russell in a 1948 bbc radio broadcast.
Why i am not a christian, what is an agnostic, the theologians nightmare and his memorable debate with frederick copleston sj on the existence of god, in addition to a good introduction on the life and work of. Whitehead was wellknown for his metaphysical defenses of belief in god. As is noted by the encyclopedia britannica, the work became a standard introductory philosophy text for thousands of university students, particularly in its u. Copleston went on to debate religious language with his friend, the philosopher a. Al seckels bertrand russell on god and religion is easily the best collection of russells writings on religion, as it contains all the most important and best ones. Copleston and bertrand russell squared off on bbc radio for a debate on the existence of.
I dont admit the connotations of such a term as contingent or the possibility of explanation in father coplestons sense. When copleston argues that god is a necessary being he. A history of philosophy, vol 8 book by frederick charles. The copleston, russell debate coplestons cosmological argument 1948 bbc radio debate 2. Debate bertrand russell copleston pdf on january 28, the british philosophers f. 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. 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. 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. Radio debate between copleston and russell 1948 hokmah. A powerpoint on copleston and russells famous radio debate. Copleston and bertrand russell broadcast in 1948 on the third program of the british broadcasting corporation.
This extract is a transcript a writtendown version of a recording of a famous radio debate between the catholic priest and philosopher f. Idealism in america, the pragmatist movement, the revolt against idealism by frederick copleston 8. 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 is a history of western philosophy written by the english jesuit priest frederick charles copleston originally published in nine volumes between 1946 and 1975. Transcript of the full debate available at 201203debateonexistenceofgodbybertrand. Copleston and bertrand russell audio and transcript xpost from rhistoryofideas submitted 7 years ago by qwill2. The moral argument pro and con from the existence of god. Copleston and bertrand russell squared off on bbc radio for a debate on the existence of god. Copleston in which they discussion the contingency version of the cosmological argument.
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