Many of the revolutionary effects of science and technology are obvious enough.
Bertrand Russell saw in the 1950s that there are also many negative aspects of s
cientific innovation. Insightful and controversial in equal measure, Russell arg
ues that science offers the world greater well-being than it has ever known, on
the condition that prosperity is dispersed; power is diffused by means of a sing
le, world government; birth rates do not become too high; and war is abolished.
Russell acknowledges that is a tall order, but remains essentially optimistic
. He imagines mankind in a 'race between human skill as to means and human folly
as to ends', but believes human society will ultimately choose the path of reas
on. This Routledge Classics edition includes a new Preface by Tim Sluckin.
