Thinking Clearly for a Modern Democracy: Susan Stebbing and Otto Neurath
摘要
In the first half of the twentieth century and with the rise of new mass media, approaches emerged to the transfer of knowledge and to popular education that were intended to promote the formation of modern democracies and an egalitarian world society. The British philosopher Susan Stebbing incorporated such developments in her theoretical work as well as in her public activities, particularly in conjunction with the Austrian émigré and member of the Vienna Circle Otto Neurath. Their collaboration has received little attention thus far and will be investigated in this chapter. Neurath, in exile, seems to have broadened his understanding of the scientific worldview even further to foster a general improvement of life in terms of promoting a general ability to analyse and judge the world around us, which is part of a comprehensive education and upbringing in democratic societies. This, like Stebbing, seems to him to be a prerequisite for a fulfilled, happy life in the community and for ensuring equality and participation in society—also on a global scale.