The Bertrand Russell Case
Encyclopedia
The Bertrand Russell Case edited by John Dewey
and Horace M Kallen is a collection of articles on the 1940 dismissal of Bertrand Russell
as Professor of Philosophy from the College of the City of New York
.
Russell's appointment was confirmed by New York's Board of Higher Education in spite of a media frenzy led by Dr William Thomas Manning
, the Episcopal Bishop of New York.
The matter was however taken to the New York Supreme Court
by Jean Kay who was afraid that her daughter would be harmed by the appointment although her daughter was not a student at CCNY. The judge hearing the case was the Irish Catholic John E. McGeehan
who on the basis of four of Russell's popular and non-philosophic books (On Education, What I Believe
, Education and the Modern World, and Marriage and Morals
) ruled against 'a chair of indecency,' finding Russell morally unfit to teach philosophy. In the books, Russell advocated sex before marriage, among other things.
Russell was prevented from appearing in court and an appeal by the American Civil Liberties Union
was denied in several courts. The City of New York's lawyers told the Board of Higher Education that the verdict would not be appealed. A few days later Mayor LaGuardia removed the funds for the position from the budget.
When Russell published An Inquiry into Meaning and Truth, the lectures he gave at Harvard that fall, he added "Judicially pronounced unworthy to be Professor of Philosophy at the College of the City of New York" to the listing of distinctions and academic honours on the title page in the English version.
Russell commented on Judge McGeehan that, "As an Irish Catholic, his views were perhaps prejudiced," and compared his case to the case against Socrates
saying that "precisely the same accusations were brought — atheism and corrupting the young."
Judge McGeehan's original ruling is published as Kay v. Board of Higher Ed. of City of New York, 18 N.Y.S.2d 821 (1940).
John Dewey
John Dewey was an American philosopher, psychologist and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform. Dewey was an important early developer of the philosophy of pragmatism and one of the founders of functional psychology...
and Horace M Kallen is a collection of articles on the 1940 dismissal of Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these things...
as Professor of Philosophy from the College of the City of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
.
Russell's appointment was confirmed by New York's Board of Higher Education in spite of a media frenzy led by Dr William Thomas Manning
William Thomas Manning
William Thomas Manning was an U.S. Episcopal bishop of New York.-Biography:...
, the Episcopal Bishop of New York.
The matter was however taken to the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
by Jean Kay who was afraid that her daughter would be harmed by the appointment although her daughter was not a student at CCNY. The judge hearing the case was the Irish Catholic John E. McGeehan
John E. McGeehan
John E. McGeehan of The Bronx was a Justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1933 to 1950. He is buried in Saint Raymond's Cemetery. He presided over The Bertrand Russell Case....
who on the basis of four of Russell's popular and non-philosophic books (On Education, What I Believe
What I Believe
"What I Believe" is the title of two essays espousing humanism, by Bertrand Russell and by E. M. Forster , respectively.Several other authors have also written works with the same title, alluding to either or both of these essays....
, Education and the Modern World, and Marriage and Morals
Marriage and Morals
Marriage and Morals is a 1929 book by the philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell that questions the Victorian notions of morality regarding sex and marriage....
) ruled against 'a chair of indecency,' finding Russell morally unfit to teach philosophy. In the books, Russell advocated sex before marriage, among other things.
Russell was prevented from appearing in court and an appeal by the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
was denied in several courts. The City of New York's lawyers told the Board of Higher Education that the verdict would not be appealed. A few days later Mayor LaGuardia removed the funds for the position from the budget.
When Russell published An Inquiry into Meaning and Truth, the lectures he gave at Harvard that fall, he added "Judicially pronounced unworthy to be Professor of Philosophy at the College of the City of New York" to the listing of distinctions and academic honours on the title page in the English version.
Russell commented on Judge McGeehan that, "As an Irish Catholic, his views were perhaps prejudiced," and compared his case to the case against Socrates
Socrates
Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary ...
saying that "precisely the same accusations were brought — atheism and corrupting the young."
Judge McGeehan's original ruling is published as Kay v. Board of Higher Ed. of City of New York, 18 N.Y.S.2d 821 (1940).