Russell's Moral Quandary

David Berman holds key oppositions in tension, including concerning morality.

- David Berman

The 1948 BBC radio debate between Bertrand Russell and Frederick Copleston on the existence of God is justly famous as a notable moment in the history of twentieth century philosophy. For one thing, it seems to have been the first time that two respected philosophers - one highly and widely respected-debated publicly, in the mass media, on the existence of God. Before 1948, there had been many public debates on the subject, but between popular atheists, like Charles Bradlaugh, and clergymen of various religious denominations, where neither debater had any real standing in philosophy.

In his Life of Bertrand Russell (1975), Ronald Clark describes Russell's involvement with the BBC, and how, by 1947, it had become intense. Continuing his account, Clark quotes Ronald Lewin of the BBC as saying that "Of all the many speakers I handled I would put Bertie among the most professional... His scripts were always immaculately composed to exactly the right length and written in a style that absolutely fitted his way of speaking." And it was this, as Clark then observes, that "led on to a major unscripted debate with Father Copleston on 'The Existence of God'... 'Copleston is a find', the Director-General [of the BBC] wrote the following day [after the debate]. 'He was the first man I had heard who could stand in the same ring as Russell on these matters and not seem out of place"."

In his Memoirs of a Philosopher (1993), Copleston himself says a good deal about his 1948 encounter with Russell. However, five years earlier, Copleston had sent me a lengthy account of the debate, in a letter dated 9 February 1988. It was written in reply to one I sent him expressing my gratitude for a Sunday Times review he wrote of my History of Atheism in Britain. In my letter I asked him if he had any memories of his 1948 debate with Russell that I might include if there was a new edition of my History.