A Reaction Paper on

Russells The Family

The article that is currently under scrutiny is Chapter 13 of Bertrand Russells book,
The Conquest of Happiness. The book can be divided into two (2) parts: the first part,
composed of chapters one to nine, discussed the causes of unhappiness; the second
part, which is chapter 10 17, dealt with the causes of happiness. Chapter 13 is entitled
The Family. It is included in the second part of the book. Hence, it could be said that
Russell presented the family as one of the causes of happiness.
I presume that this chapter will be presenting the reasons why the family could be
considered a source of happiness. But it seems I am entirely wrong with my impression
because at the very first paragraph, Russell insinuated that the family is disorganized
and derailed. He said that the family is one of the most deep-seated causes of the
discontent which is prevalent in our age. According to him, the family is becoming a
source of unhappiness, instead of a source of happiness, due to the conflict between
parents and their children.
Russell also suggested that parenthood is becoming a burden to women. This is due to
two reasons, to wit: the opening of careers to single women, and the decay of domestic
service. He hinted that women do not want to have a family if possible because they will
lose their career in the event that they get pregnant. Single women have more
opportunities compared to the married ones. Maternity is a hindrance to career. On the
second reason, a woman who gets married is confronted with a new and terrible
problem that is the lack and bad quality of domestic service. A married woman has to
take care of all the house chores which are unworthy of her ability and training. She has
to do the nursing of her children too. If she has maids, she might find herself scolding
them whenever some tasks are neglected. With these two reasons, Russell pointed out
that weighed down by a mass of trivial detail, she is fortunate indeed if she does not
soon lose all her charm and three-quarters of her intelligence. Too often through the
mere performance of necessary duties such women become wearisome to their
husbands and a nuisance to their children. Russell, moreover, pointed out that this is
Benguet State University: Ph.D. in Language Education: Philosophy of Man:
Academic Year 2013-2014: 1st Semester: Sammy Borgonia Viste
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the most pernicious of all the injustices that she has to suffer: that in consequence of
doing her duty by her family, she has lost their affection; whereas if she had neglected
them and remained gay and charming they would probably have loved her.
Russell pointed out that, in old days, women were driven into marriage by the
intolerable conditions of life for the spinsters. Russell reasoned out that, despite the
reasons mentioned above, women get married rather than growing old as spinsters. A
spinster needs to be economically dependent from her father, and later on from her
brothers. However, the modern spinster is already different. If she has a good
education, she has no difficulty in making a comfortable living. The unmarried young
women of the professional classes are therefore able nowadays. They may even
choose to have their own child despite not getting married. This is so because they are
not anymore economically dependent from their family. Getting married is not a must
anymore; it is already an option for the modern woman.
Russell also denoted that one of the problems being faced by the family is housing
which result from the concentration of populations in large cities. Those who live in the
city usually have to be content with a flat, and in which people of moderate means have
to be content with the absolute minimum space. If there are young children, life in a flat
is difficult.
Russell also mentioned that democracy brings about friction between parents and their
children. Parents are no longer sure of their rights as against their children; children no
longer feel that they owe respect to their parents. Parenthood, which used to be a
triumphant exercise of power, has become timid, anxious, and filled with conscientious
doubts. Parenthood has become awful. Conscientious mothers restrain their affection
and become shy; unconscientious mothers seek in their children a compensation for the
joys that they have had to forgo.
Russell also suggested that there is a decline in birth-rates because of civilization.
Civilization brings about sterility due to hectic schedules. The most civilized are the
most sterile; the least civilized are the most fertile. There is no doubt this is also the
Benguet State University: Ph.D. in Language Education: Philosophy of Man:
Academic Year 2013-2014: 1st Semester: Sammy Borgonia Viste
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reason why population in developed countries dwindles while that of the developing
countries usually booms. However, the decline may also pose a problem to countries.
There might come a time when they will be lacking manpower or labor resources.
Moreso, the civilization might die-down and be replaced by another.
The problem on the decline of birth-rate is being treated. Some say that it is the duty of
every married copules to have as many children as God wills, regardless of any
prospect that such children may have of health and happiness. On the other hand, male
divines prate about the sacred joys of motherhood and pretend that a large family of
diseased and poverty-stricken infants is a source of happiness. But this is also a
problem. A couple should only have children which they are capable of feeding and
rearing. Russell reasoned out that when men and women have children, they do so
either because they believe that children will add to their happiness, or because they do
not know how to prevent them.
On the latter part of the discourse, Russell pointed out more problems being found
within the family. Due to this, I cannot imagine Russell considering the family as a
source of happiness but enumerating problems within the family in this discourse. As if
he was trying to prove that the family is a ground of unhappiness instead of proving the
other way around.
I can say that Russell faltered in this chapter. He was not able to bring out his purpose
that is to show that the family is a source of happiness. It is the other way around
instead. He instead gave reasons why the family is becoming a source of problems
which results to unhappiness.

Benguet State University: Ph.D. in Language Education: Philosophy of Man:

Academic Year 2013-2014: 1st Semester: Sammy Borgonia Viste
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