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We spotted this strange piece of streetart off Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg. We read the Wikipedia entry on Bertrand Russell, and learned a lot of interesting facts: he won the Nobel prize for literature and was an outspoken anti-war activist, and in 1931 became an Earl. His philosophical work was varied but always marked by his belief in the value of mathematical precision and logic. He apparently knew the deal about a lot of things-- but to what in particular was the writer of this piece referring? Does anyone know?
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Bertrand was also famous for his rational dismantling of Christianity in "Why I Am Not a Christian." Maybe that little statement represents the graffer's unease with the current climate of religiousity in our country. In any case, I hope this catches on. Bertrand Russell definently knew the deal.
i think you said the answer: anti-war.
Russell thought the US was a bigger threat to freedom than the Soviet Union. Kind of like the left wingers who think the US is worse than bin Laden. That kind of shallow reasoning would appeal to Williamsburg hipsters with spray cans.
Actually, Nola, Bertrand Russell notoriously argued, in the early fifties, after having visited the USSR, that a pre-emptive nuclear strike by the western allies against the USSR was necessary to prevent the spread of bureaucratic communism. You're comment only reveals your shallow observation of history and the stupidity of the ideological line you tow.
Danny didn't do his homework. Russell did take that position. And then he did a complete about-face and became an advocate for disarmament. He even claimed that JFK was worse than Hitler. So it looks like you are the shallow observer of history, Danny.
There are plenty of thinkers who have been anti-war and/or anti-US. I would assume that the message refers to Russell's "rational dismantling of Christianity," which is the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear his name.
Actually, he never said that (worse than Hitler). And, as for the other part about advocating disarmament, that does not in any way constitute an about face with regard to his feelings about the USSR and the USA. I guess you're too much of a chickenshit to use your real name but "nola" maybe it's time to read something other than Ann Coulter.
Wow, Danny is a real tough guy! Can you explain why giving a first name (and no other info) is braver than using a nickname?
And once again you have your history wrong. Russell did say that JFK and Harold Macmillan were worse than Hitler because they wanted to kill everyone, while Hitler just wanted to kill the Jews. Do some more research, Danny.
Finally, when someone advocates nuking another country and then advocates disarmament it certrainly does constitute an about face.
stop flashing each other your balls! it's only the interweb.
Why do people need to polarize everything? nola: if someone sprayed "Martin Heidegger Knows The Deal" on the facade of 895 Park Avenue, would you say "Martin Heidegger was a Nazi sympathizer and that kind of hateful thinking appeals to Upper East Side Jew-hating WASPs"? Why do you need to take that statement as a political one?
Again, I hope this catches on.
Why do people need to polarize everything? nola: if someone sprayed "Martin Heidegger Knows The Deal" on the facade of 895 Park Avenue, would you say "Martin Heidegger was a Nazi sympathizer and that kind of hateful thinking appeals to Upper East Side Jew-hating WASPs"? Why do you need to take that statement as a political one?
Again, I hope this catches on.
You hope what catches on? Vandalism? Vague statements that can be interpreted in any number of ways?
I don't see why your guess as to the spray painter's message is any more valid than mine. Neither of us knows, and either of us could be right.
And if someone spray painted the message about Heidegger it wouldn't be out of bounds to wonder if that person were a Nazi sympathizer. You are wrong to say that such thinking appeals to upper east side wasps, by the way.
Well, it does seem more plausible that the spray painter was making a reference to one of Russell's most widely read books than to a rather minor viewpoint he expressed in an interview or a viewpoint that was attributed to him. Anti-war sure, but I don't think the spray painter was thinking about all that specific bit of shallow drivel that seeped out of Betrand Russell's lazy, pinko, shallow, stupid hipster mind. Anycrap, my point with the Heidegger is that I think it is lame to focus on public statements or biographical anecdotes of a writer's life (no matter how relevant they might appear to you) before thinking about what the writer actually wrote! I am an upper east side WASP and the first thing that would go through my head if I saw that hypothetical statement would be "Yeah, I guess Heidegger knew the deal" not "God, why did I have to grow up in such a bigot-filled neighborhood." Why the "vandalism" hatred? Can no one have fun anymore? I know seeing vague and random statements scrawled on the streets of New York often makes my day a little brighter. Unfortunately, it seems that a little humorous irreverence can't penetrate your black, cynical, serious soul.
w'burgers: where else have you seen that handwriting? in yellow spray paint? it looks really familar, i know i've seen it around the neighborhood, i can't place where...
It's the same guy who scrawls on behalf of the "League of Pissed-Off Voters"
This is an obvious reference to Russell's paradox, as explained in the four volumes of Principia Mathmatica.
I was a hipster?
I was a hipster?
you are all up your own arses
Smoke Crack. Read Deleuze.