Ideas That Have Helped Mankind
by Bertrand Russell
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In this analytical essay Bertrand Russell traces the essential ideas that carried humanity from a primitive to a civilized state. He describes early homo sapiens living a precarious existence, terrified of wild beasts and short of food, saved only by a developing brain. He asks whether civilization has made us happier than animals: unlike birds, who do not foresee the coming winter, human intelligence brings not only greater enjoyments (music, poetry, science) but also anxiety, dread and a greater liability to boredom. Russell divides helpful ideas into those that add to knowledge and technique and those concerned with morals and politics, and focuses on five great prehistoric discoveries, language, the utilization of fire, the taming of domestic animals, agriculture, and the art of writing. He concludes that although these ideas advanced our technical progress, the true moral progress of mankind lies in becoming more friendly and cooperative and moving beyond our ancient, tribal instincts.
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Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) was a celebrated British philosopher, historian, mathematician and advocate for peace, awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950. In this analytical and philosophical essay he explores the essential ideas that helped humanity progress from a primitive state to modern civilization.
The precarious life of early man
Russell begins by examining our pre-human ancestors (homo sapiens) before the dawn of history, when human numbers were extremely small. They lived a very precarious existence, constantly terrified of wild beasts and having immense difficulty securing adequate food. A long, vulnerable infancy was a major biological disadvantage, but our developing brain and superior intelligence eventually outweighed these physical weaknesses, allowing human numbers to increase.
Has civilization made us happier?
Russell raises a profound question: has civilization made us happier than animals? He compares human suffering with that of birds. During a severe winter, birds die of hunger in large numbers if they are not birds of passage; but in summer they do not foresee this catastrophe or worry about the coming winter. With human beings the matter is completely different, every human death by starvation is preceded by intense, long-term anxiety of the individual and their neighbors.
We suffer not only from the actual evils that befall us, but from all the future disasters that our intelligence tells us we have reason to fear. Our intelligence has made us progressively less like animals, but it has also introduced a unique sense of anxiety and dread. However, humans have acquired a much greater diversity of enjoyments than animals, while lions derive no pleasure from a movie, humans enjoy music, poetry, science, sports and alcohol, though we have purchased this advantage at the expense of a much greater liability to boredom.
Two kinds of helpful ideas
Russell divides the ideas that have helped mankind into two broad categories: those that contribute to knowledge and technique, practical, scientific and industrial discoveries, and those concerned with morals and politics, which govern our social conduct, laws and ethical systems. He focuses largely on the key prehistoric discoveries that laid the very foundation of human civilization.
The five great prehistoric discoveries
Language
The most important and difficult step taken before history. Without it, it would have been nearly impossible to hand down inventions and discoveries from one generation to the next.
Utilization of Fire
A major milestone, first used to keep wild beasts away during sleep. Later, when a piece of meat was accidentally dropped into the fire, humans discovered the art of cookery.
Taming of Domestic Animals
Especially the cow and the sheep, which made human life far more pleasant, secure and stable.
Agriculture
A revolutionary discovery that allowed humans to settle in one place, though it also introduced blood-thirsty practices and human sacrifices, for centuries children were offered to deities like Moloch to make crops grow.
Art of Writing
The last great prehistoric invention and a prerequisite of history, developing from pictures to syllable writing and finally the alphabet, allowing the permanent recording of human knowledge.
The real moral progress
Russell concludes that while these ideas have contributed immensely to our technical progress, the true moral progress of mankind lies in our ability to be more friendly and cooperative toward one another, moving past our ancient, tribal instincts.