Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), a British philosopher, logician, and social critic, significantly advanced analytic philosophy. His 1910 work "Principia Mathematica," co-authored with Alfred North Whitehead, sought to ground mathematics in logical foundations. In 1950, Russell received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his varied and significant writings championing humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought. A vocal pacifist, he actively opposed World War I and nuclear armament, founding the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in 1958. His essay "Why I Am Not a Christian" (1927) critiqued religion, showcasing his commitment to rationalism and secularism. Russell's contributions to philosophy, logic, and social activism remain pivotal in 20th-century thought.