Universal Human Values in Bertrand Russell's Philosophy: Between Skepticism and Cosmopolitan Humanism Introduction: Critique of Dogmatism and the Search for a Rational Foundation Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) — British philosopher, logician, mathematician, and public figure — approached the question of universal human values not as a moralist proclaiming ready-made truths, but as a skeptic-rationalist. He rejected supernatural justification of morality (religious dogmas) and intuitionist theories, striving to find a solid foundation for values in human needs, common sense, and empirical knowledge. His approach can be called scientific humanism or cosmopolitan rationalism, where universal values are derived not from authority, but from the analysis of the conditions of human flourishing and coexistence. Critique of Absolutes and Relativism of Facts vs. Universalism of Goals Russell was cautious about the concept of "absolute values." In his work "Science and Religion" he argued that it is mistaken to attribute value to things in themselves, apart from anyone's desires. However, this did not mean moral relativism. His position can be formulated as follows: values are relative to human nature and the conditions of species survival, but given the similarity of these conditions for all humanity, they acquire a de facto universal character. Russell identified two sources of morality: Social instincts (sympathy, cooperation), rooted in biological evolution. Reason, which allows understanding that satisfying others' desires and cooperating leads to fuller satisfaction of one's own desires in the long term. Thus, universal human values for Russell are not divine commandments but rational principles of survival and well-being of the human community. Key Universal Human Values: The Core of Russell's Ethics Based on this approach, several core values in Russell's philosophy can be highlighted. 1. Reason as the Highest Virtue For Russell, reason is the main tool for solving human ... Читать далее