Writers & Books Welcomes the Bertrand Russell Society

All discussions held in W&B’s Verb Café, Thursdays at 7 pm

Monthly gatherings are open to everyone, not just members of the Society.

Free to W&B members, $3 for the general public.

Jan. 10. Bill Drumright on Bertrand Russell in two world wars.

Bertrand Russell was radicalized by Britain's plunge into the First
World War and went to prison for his opposition to the war. For the next 20 years one of his main concerns was preventing a new world war, but he came to believe that a Nazi victory would be a greater evil than war itself.

Bill Drumright teaches history, including a course on World War One, at Monroe Community College. He is a regular attender of the Greater Rochester Russell Set. This is his first presentation.

Feb. 14. Howard Blair on how Bertrand Russell Knew the Deal on
causation.

The notion of cause and effect seems obvious, but Bertrand Russell in a 1912 essay said that, scientifically speaking, it is a relic of a bygone
age. Howard Blair will draw on Bertrand Russell's esssay "On the Notion of Cause" and a new book, CAUSATION, PHYSICS AND THE CONSTITUTION OF REALITY: RUSSELL'S REPUBLIC REVISITED (Bertrand Russell Knew the Deal), edited by Huw Price and Richard Corry.

Howard Blair is an associate professor of computer science at Syracuse University. He is a regular attender of the Greater Rochester Russell Set and has made many presentations related to science, mathematics and logic. His previous presentation was on Bertrand Russell and quantum physics.

March 13. Ted Lechman on Somebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank

Robert W. Fuller, in his book SOMEBODIES AND NOBODIES; OVERCOMING THE ABUSE OF RANK, argues that to undervalue or abuse someone based on their low position in a hierarchy is just as unjust as discrimination or abuse based on race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. He argues that "rankism" is pervasive on our personal lives, social institutions and international relations, and offers a vision of the "dignitarian society."

Ted Lechman is an electronics engineer and a regular attender of the Greater Rochester Russell Set. This is his first presentation.

April 10. Solomon Blaylock on The Sage in the World: Bertrand Russell's Activism

Bertrand Russell felt a tremendous personal responsibility to use his
gifts and influence for the benefit of mankind, and exerted considerable efforts toward those ends. However, his personal correspondence reveals the complexity of his motivations and suggests a great mind afflicted alternately by grave self-doubt and messianic arrogance.

Solomon Blaylock describes himself as an incorrigible dilletante and a philosophy student. He works as director of communications for Scott Miller in Pittsford and is founder of the Lobster Quadrille: a Southern Gothic septet that performs regularly in and around Rochester. He is a regular attender of the Greater Rochester Russell Set. This is his first presentation.