從羅素想到李大釗

英國哲學家羅素1920年抱著很大的希望訪問剛剛開始由布爾什維克執政的俄國，見到了列寧。同年九月他將他的想法寫成 The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism。在序言中，他說：

The Russian Revolution is one of the great heroic events of the world's history.

...

Before entering upon any detail, I wish to state, as clearly and unambiguously as I can, my own attitude towards this new thing.

By far the most important aspect of the Russian Revolution is as an attempt to realize Communism. I believe that Communism is necessary to the world, and I believe that the heroism of Russia has fired men's hopes in a way which was essential to the realization of Communism in the future. Regarded as a splendid attempt, without which ultimate success would have been very improbable, Bolshevism deserves the gratitude and admiration of all the progressive part of mankind.

But the method by which Moscow aims at establishing Communism is a pioneer method, rough and dangerous, too heroic to count the cost of the opposition it arouses. I do not believe that by this method a stable or desirable form of Communism can be established. Three issues seem to me possible from the present situation. The first is the ultimate defeat of Bolshevism by the forces of capitalism. The second is the victory of the Bolshevists accompanied by a complete loss of their ideals and a régime of Napoleonic imperialism. The third is a prolonged world-war, in which civilization will go under, and all its manifestations (including Communism) will be forgotten.

歷史的發展證明了羅素的預測。布爾什維克主義在實現共產主義的過程中，走向了共產主義理想的反面，在蘇聯與中國都造成了巨大的災難，而且布爾什維克主義最後被資本主義擊敗。

 

羅素1920年在中國講學一年，不知與李大釗有沒有交往。羅素1920年對布爾什維克主義的洞見，顯然沒有發揮阻止李大釗、陳獨秀等人效法蘇聯，組建中國共產黨的作用。

 

羅素1956年的文章Why I am Not a Communist則更清楚的指出共產主義的問題：

In relation to any political doctrine there are two questions to be asked: (1) Are its theoretical tenets true? (2) Is its practical policy likely to increase human happiness? For my part, I think the theoretical tenets of Communism are false, and I think its practical maxims are such as to produce an immeasurable increase of human misery.

 

他指出馬克思主義與基督教的同質性，則是沒有基督教文化背景的中國知識份子難以發現的。

Yahweh=Dialectical Materialism
The Messiah=Marx
The Elect=The Proletariat
The Church=The Communist Party
The Second Coming=The Revolution
Hell=Punishment of the Capitalists
The Millennium=The Communist Commonwealth

(The History of Western Philosophy, pp. 364)

可惜的是，當時的中國無法產生羅素這樣有遠見的知識份子，而是由李大釗等知識份子鼓動中國跳布爾什維克主義的火坑。