1. The Happy Man
-Bertrand Russell
From Twentieth Century Prose – Bertrand Russell in Dr. V. Sachithanandan, Ed.
Presented by: Dammar Singh Saud
2.
3. Introduction of the Writer
Bertrand Arthur William Russell, was a British philosopher,
logician, mathematician, historian, writer, social critic,
political activist and Nobel laureate.
Born: May 18, 1872, Trellech
Died: February 2, 1970, Penrhyndeudraeth, United
Kingdom
Full name: Bertrand Arthur William Russell
Spouse: Edith Finch Russell (1952–1970)
4. Central Idea of the text
The writer gives different instructions to our parents and
teachers in order to allow their children perfect freedom. A
child should spend most of the day time hours in large play
rooms with other children or out of doors. In order to be
happy man one needs to have freedom and security. Happy
man always lives in the peaceful society with his /her peaceful
mind.
5. Major points of the text
A man is happy would have his childhood happy because of
parents’ love and good company.
Children should be encouraged to be with other children in large
playrooms or outdoors.
Children need two things: first, freedom to grow and second,
security which comes from affection and routine.
In the war, nobody is happy. (present situation of the world)
Free from the sin, war, and fear is the condition for the secure
peace.
Scholastic education is a tiresome necessity.
Though scholastic education can not be entirely free, it can be
more nearly free than conventional methods (passive learning).
6. Major points of the text
Prevent children from ill treating each other by keeping them
interested in some activity which they enjoy rather than
controlling them by force.
The framework of life in childhood should have routine which is
only varied on great occasions, such as holidays or expeditions.
Every healthy adult will be expected to do some kind of useful
work.
When our children are grown up they want to live their own
lives, and if we continue to be interested in them as we were
when they were young, we are likely to become a burden to
them, unless they are unusually heartless.
7. Major points of the text
Intelligent children can learn and write if they are not
prematurely forced.
All education can be pleasant if the child feels that is
important.
Education ought to be more in workshops than at desks.
In Greek period, there was not the use of electronic media
in teaching and gentle men did nothing with their hands
because they had slaves.
Cultural education should be emphasized because students
can be more familiar with it. For example, history and
geography should be taught at first by the means of cinema.
8. Major points of the text
Cinematic education can have great impact on quality
education (pleasure, entertainment, attraction, impressive,
permanent etc.).
If the teacher teaches which lacks the interests of the
students, then, in this situation, the teacher is wrong.
Artistic education should be highlighted.
Opportunities for literature, music and painting should be
given to those who like them but should not be forced at
them to learn.
Happy man is always free from sin and fear.
9. Major points of the text
Cooperation is better than competition for happiness and
satisfaction.
Learning through mistakes because mistakes are essential
part of education.
Joys and sorrows as well as birth and death are the ultimate
reality. So that, we need to look our life like the river – a
continuous process.
Old age and death are reality of human life. So that, accept
reality for happiness in life.
The wise man should wish to die while still being at work.
Thus successful old age is easiest for those who have strong
impersonal interests involving appropriate activities.
10. Conclusion
People, who had their childhood happy, who
have freedom and security, who cooperate,
who have impersonal interests and who
understands their life as river, they feel even
happy not only in living but also in death.
