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) — a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, and social activist — approached the question of universal human values not as a moralist proclaiming ready-made truths, but as a skeptic-rationalist. He rejected supernatural justifications 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 analyzing the conditions for 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, independently of anyone’s desires. However, this did not imply moral relativism. His position can be formulated as follows: values are relative to human nature and the conditions for species survival, but considering 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 the desires of others 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 can be distinguished in Russell’s philosophy. 1. Reason as the Highest Virtue For Russell, reason is the main ... Read more