Matthew Ehret gives in The Revenge of the Malthusians and the Science of Limits a mind-boggling review of the role of mathematics in human civilisation and education as fostered by in particular the prominent philosopher and mathematician Betrand Russell with the following key idea/vision expressed in The Scientific Outlook (1930):
- The scientific rulers will provide one kind of education for ordinary men and women, and another for those who are to become holders of scientific power.
- Ordinary men and women will be expected to be docile, industrious, punctual, thoughtless, and contented. Of these qualities probably contentment will be considered the most important.
- In order to produce it, all the researchers of psycho-analysis, behaviourism, and biochemistry will be brought into play….
- All the boys and girls will learn from an early age to be what is called `co-operative,’ i.e., to do exactly what everybody is doing.
- Initiative will be discouraged in these children, and insubordination, without being punished, will be scientifically trained out of them.
- Except for the one matter of loyalty to the world State and to their own order, members of the governing class will be encouraged to be adventurous and full of initiative. It will be recognized that it is their business to improve scientific technique, and to keep the manual workers contented by means of continual new amusements.
Today 90 years later Russell's cruel vision has come true. Anything to do about it?
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