Icarus; or, The Future of Science

Icarus: or, The Future of Science is a thought-provoking and reflective essay written by the British philosopher and polymath Bertrand Russell, first published in 1924. The title is a reference to the Greek myth of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun with wings made of feathers and wax, causing them to melt and leading to his tragic fall. The metaphor suggests the danger of overreaching or excessive ambition.

In this work, Russell explores the potential consequences of unchecked scientific...