Bertrand Russell as an Educator: Logic, Freedom, and Skepticism in the Education of a World Citizen Although Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) entered history primarily as a philosopher, logician, and public figure, his educational ideas and practice constitute a comprehensive, radical, and deeply thought-out system. His approach to education was a direct consequence of his philosophical views: empiricism, skepticism, commitment to the scientific method, and liberal values. For Russell, pedagogy was not an applied field, but a battlefield for the future of human reason and society. 1. Philosophical Foundations of Pedagogy: Knowledge as Antidogma. The foundation of Russell's pedagogical views lay in several key principles stemming from his philosophy: Critique of authoritarian knowledge: Like how he fought dogmatism in logic and epistemology, in pedagogy he rejected education as indoctrination. Knowledge should not be presented as a set of indubitable truths transmitted by authority (state, church, tradition). The teacher's task is not to impose but to learn to doubt and investigate. The scientific method as the core of education: Russell saw the scientific method — with its reliance on evidence, testability, and openness to criticism — as the main tool for the development of thinking. Education should cultivate not so much a sum of facts, but intellectual virtues: curiosity, caution in conclusions, respect for facts, and readiness to admit error. Emotional neutrality of facts: In his essay "Education and Social Structure," he insisted that teachers should teach controversial topics (religion, politics, morality) without emotional pressure, presenting various viewpoints factually. This fosters independent judgment, not conformism. Interesting fact: In 1927, Russell, together with his wife Dora, opened the experimental school "Beacon Hill School." This was a bold pedagogical experiment embodying his ideas in practice. The school was co-managed (children and adults together ... Read more