A Critique of Bertrand Russell's Anthropological Educational Arguments in the Light of Allamah Mohammad Taqi Ja fari's View

It is, perhaps, necessary to consider the views of the thinkers and scientists who have conducted in-depth research works in different fields including anthropology and offered remarkable views about education. In this qualitative research in which a ‘’descriptive-analytical’’ method, some important notes of Bertrand Russell’s anthropology are expounded and then his anthropological and educational arguments are discussed and criticized in the light of the view of Allamah Mohammad Taqi Ja’fari. According to Allamah Mohammad Taqi Ja’fari’ views, human life is not limited to two domains: individual ‘’pleasure and pain) and trans-individual, rather it has third domains, that is,’’ perfection and sublimity’’, which is an important domain that has no place in Russell’s theory. The results of research show that, despite this difference and other basic differences between these two philosophers about the general anthropological orientations, Allamah Mohammad Taqi Ja’fari, who considers the natural agreeable life and material life as an introduction to a healthy life, holds that some of the intermediate targets and principles and methods of put forward by Russell education are verified but they are not sufficient because they consider personal and social welfare a man’s aim in this world. Among these principles are the principle of ’’ necessity of education’’, the principle of ‘’ conformity of education with instincts” and the principle of ‘’profitability of education’’. Also, controversial points are found in Russell’s educational views, such as the role of art in education, the principle of ‘’ absolute’s skepticism’’ and the principle of ‘’the precedence of participation over competition’’. It is also clear that most of the criticisms are directed to Russell’s view about man’s afterlife and man’s education, to which he takes no notice, because of his unbelief in and doubts about God and spirituality.