Address Delivered at the University of Copenhagen on the Occasion of the Award of the Sonning Prize to Bertrand Russell, 19 April 1960

Abstract

ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN ON THE OCCASION OF THE AWARD OF THE SONNING PRIZE TO BERTRAND RUSSELL, 19 APRIL 1960 L H [In  Bertrand and Edith Russell went to Copenhagen for his award of the Sonning Prize on  April. They made a three-day trip of it. On the first day they enjoyed a drive around Copenhagen with Vice-Chancellor Carl Iversen as their guide. Next day was the ceremony at the University of Copenhagen. They departed on the th. By all accounts the trip was a welcome break from Russell’s usual round of speaking, writing and meeting on nuclear disarmament. The prize helped, too, for it was a monetary one: , kroner, of which Russell donated five percent, or£, through Mrs. Niels Bohr, to the Anne Frank Committee in Denmark’s fund for refugee children in Israel. Soon after the Russells’ return occurred the U- incident , and then the failure of the Paris Summit on  May. With the deterioration in international relations their lives became more hectic. Russell kept two speeches in his honour from the event: the speech introducing him at the prize-giving ceremony, and the vice-chancellor’s shorter speech in presenting the award. Russell referred to the latter as “very delightful” and told Iversen that he and Edith “looked forward to reading these at leisure”. They are kept with the Sonningprisen award bound in red leather along with related photographs. Russell was only the second recipient of the Sonning Prize. He followed Albert Schweitzer, with Niels Bohr succeeding Russell in . The prize is awarded to a Dane or foreigner who has “accomplished meritorious work for the advancement of European civilization”. Russell was asked to give a talk and attend a dinner hosted by the Danish Minister of Education. Russell readily agreed to both (but was anxious not to wear either tails or a dinner jacket at the dinner). He also turned down several other invitations to speak, including to students, but he did request that students be able to attend the ceremony. He was asked to reflect on the present state of European civilization for his talk. He titled it “Old and Young Cultures” (printed in Fact and Fiction), and it was to be his last paper before an academic audience. “Old and Young Cultures” ranges over the major civilizations both in time and place, building seamlessly to a dire warning that nuclear warfare could snuff out all cultures because of the European development of science. russell: the Journal of Bertrand Russell Studies n.s.  (winter –): – The Bertrand Russell Research Centre, McMaster U.  -    Russell’s introducer, Louis Hjelmslev (–), Professor of Comparative Linguistics at Copenhagen and a prominent Danish Humanist, was to give “a short lecture giving a brief outline of your work as a writer, emphasizing in particular the importance of your writings to the European civilization” (Iversen to Russell,  March ). A member of the Sonning Prize Committee, Hjelmslev was the author of many works, including Prolegomena to a Theory of Language (translated into English, ). He rarely refers in them to Russell’s writings, although on one occasion he cited An Outline of Philosophy on there being no means of deciding whether speech or writing is older. The lecture is printed here, with the permission of Dr. Hjelmslev’s niece, Susanne Agersnap, as a fine commemoration of Russell’s achievements before the last great period of his life.—K.B.] ord Russell, Lady Russell, Mr. Vice Chancellor, Ladies and Gentlemen, L The Sonning Prize committee of the Senate of this University has assigned the task to me of opening this ceremony and of giving expression to our feelings. First and foremost these are feelings of gratitude. Our thanks are due to Lord Russell, not only for having expressed his willingness to accept the Sonning Prize, but, even more, for having consented to come in person and address this audience. For this kindness we tender our heartfelt thanks. Lord Russell’s personal presence gives an added value to this meeting. It is true that it can safely be assumed that Bertrand Russell is well known to all those present. Bertrand Russell is known to be a brilliant and stimulating writer and an extremely...