Further thoughts on Bertrand Russell

Re: my book log from yesterday, Russell describes human society as basically a tension between the need for state/central control and social cohesion, and individual freedom and initiative. And sure, lack of control/repression is a necessary condition for individual freedom/initiative, but it really isn't sufficient. Take science. To have academic freedom there needs to be no repression, but you also need colleagues to collaborate with, colleagues who criticize you, a salary, research equipment, some way to disseminate your research, etc. So a good social environment is necessary for your freedom. I feel like he did not acknowledge this, but perhaps he's picturing some sort of solitary genius.

Yeah, this is probably not a very original critique, but it was bugging me.