John Stuart Mill: An Introduction (On Liberty, Utilitarianism, The Subjection of Women)

[@terryharrison8669]

Your students are very lucky to have you as a teacher. Some of these concepts can be tricky, trying to get your head round them is like trying to nail jelly to the wall. But ( excuse the laboured pun), you nailed it. Great job, enjoyed that.

[@geevideo902]

Thank you, Very easy to understand and helpful. I really enjoyed your video and made it much simpler for my philosophy class.

[@HenriqueTramontina]

Great video! Please, make a video about Adam Smith!

[@khaleelahmed7762]

Thanks for the Info sir...

[@gabrielacolonhese4838]

Your videos are great!

[@josephbrown9314]

Great video

[@jhonjacson798]

I feel like you oversimplify his book utilitarianism, I'm also kind of dissapointed you didn't cover the free speech part of on liberty, though you seem to get the other part of the book well. The issue I have with your retelling of utilitarianism is that it doesn't add in the brief context of it being a defense of utiltiarianism against it's many oponents at the time and the fact that Mill introduces the qualitative standard of pleasure and overal the rule based approach to utilitarianism which contrasts with what benthem did. The way you put it there didn't seem to be any difference between the two. But hey it's 8 minutes so for what well you did do, you did pretty well.

[@zenza7120]

That is AWESOME teaching!

[@ojoemojo]

The collar is killing me

[@jakemcnamee9417]

I'm surprised he was a classical liberal. I expected a utilitarian to be more of authoritarian, seeing as giving the masses freedoms allows them freedoms to be abused and negative behaviours to become fashionable . As much as I agree with the principle, that so long as you're not harming anyone you should be free to do that action . But what about things that are culturally unhealthy. For example. Let's say we give people the freedom to do what they like so long as they don't harm anyone else. Let's say polygamy becomes common and because of this many men can't find wives. In turn society get's more chaotic as sexually frustrated men cull themselves . That's just one example. A civilisation is kept healthy by customs and a concept of virtue and vice. When this concept is messed with, this freedom can allow all sorts of unhealthy behaviours to run rampant . That being said, giving the individuals this right may also give them a sense of responsibility they would not get with the nanny state dictating what they can and can't do . Say we legalised all drugs, would people overtime learn what drugs to do , what ones to avoid and safer ways to do them . Would some of the drugs most detrimental to health fall out of favour because of the added sense of responsibility and the taboo. For example some may say that drugs being illegal gives them a forbidden fruit allure. But it may also be noted that in many circles they're not seen as morally wrong, recognised as a vice. Just seen as the done thing, like cocaine on wall street or drug use in show business. But wouldn't a taboo arise after a sense of personal responsibility. How stupid would you be to do crack cocaine if vin mariani was legal and available . You can see what crack heads look like, so let them be free to set a bad example, enough to put everyone else off it

[@iammrbeat]

Great job as always. You have a wonderful way of simplifying- back when I took Western Civ in college, these videos would have been so helpful. These kids these days- they have it so easy. When I was their age, cable internet was a luxury...

[@tomrichey]

For real! We used to be stuck with whatever teacher we had. Now, people have so many options when it comes to receiving instruction.

[@tonylearner7636]

Being a lover of philosophy myself, I can tell you without reservation that you did an awesome job imparting "the flavor" of John Stuart Mill's ideas. Your summative and colorful visuals combined with your clear diction and lively speaking style earn you an A+ from me. Thank you for "gifting" us with your penchant for teaching.

[@tomrichey]

That's quite a compliment! I'm really pleased with how well this video has done, as I'm a history teacher who dabbles in philosophy. I'm especially passionate about liberty and I hope to do what I can to popularize the philosophy of classical liberalism. Thanks for these kind words - they're the fuel that runs this channel!

[@DaneTorres17]

I lowkey loved the rock music transitions.

[@davisonmunyosa2594]

you are actually a great teacher......I salute you

[@daminijangde2960]

John staurt mill is a political thinker and philosopher. He wrote many books . Eg. On liberty.

[@nopasaran191]

I think it’s very weird that you never mentioned the fact that he became a socialist and literally wrote a book called socialism. It seems like you intentionally misrepresented his views to sound closer to your own.

[@renf1ower]

This is super helpful! I am doing a debate and pretending to be a liberal reformer from the 1800s in a debate tomorrow in my AP Euro class. Loved the rock music.

[@markbriody1400]

Well done summary, brief however informative. Thanks!!

[@CynicalHistorian]

You should do more intellectual history, this is great. Kind-of funny how Mill argued for "benevolent despotism" over the colonies, despite his ardent beliefs in equality though. These guys are always so high-minded, but often hypocritical in action.

[@alwably]

Good intro to Mill's philosophy for those who don't know him. Music is horrible though

[@tomrichey]

Glad you liked the video... As far as the music, I guess I can't please everyone!

[@TaniPolanskyMusic]

this was great - learned more about mill from this lecture than i did in entire semester discussing philosophers like mill etc thanks a lot!

[@soonhanchoi8893]

Well done! It is. very succinct and clear. Thank you

[@PostChoice]

Hey Hey Tom Richey, Just dropping by to say you have been a huge help with my schooling. History has always been a tough subject for me in my younger years. As an adult working towards my bachelors degree in environmental science, the history classes seem to me to be all the more irrelevant. You have helped put all of the lessons into perspective for me! Thank you so much! Katie.

[@anakohli2195]

Neat and clear!! Thanks for the video . It helped me get an introductory idea of J S Mill for my school project ! Tried many videos , this the best so far

[@juliehartung9008]

Fantastic video! I have a quiz coming up that will have him on it, so this is a big help! By the way, do you have any other videos on the 5 -isms (Liberalism, Nationalism, Socialism, Romanticism, and Conservatism) besides the one on Romanticism? I'm having trouble telling some of them apart, and it's starting to bring my grade down. Thanks!

[@tomrichey]

I have TWO on Romanticism (one focuses on art) and another on the Congress of Vienna which touches on Conservatism and Metternich's opposition to Liberalism. I plan to follow up with more videos on the other isms at some point and I could see myself doing an "isms" review video of sorts, as well.

[@juliehartung9008]

Ok, thanks!

[@Mikaylap713]

I just took a philosopher test in my AP Lang class & it said that I am most like John Staurt Mill!

[@darcybhaiwala7057]

Can't believe I'm back here. You got be through AP Euro History and now I'm back here to review in my last year of undergraduate political philosophy

[@PanteraVivace97]

I was studying John Mill on my philosophy book, but I couldn't understand some of his key-thoughts, so I searched through youtube and I found you! I understood everything you explained in such an easy and understandable way! Thank you! By the way sorry for my english, I'm Italian :)

[@absolutelyridiculous3049]

Excellent vid! The content was simple, concise and easy to understand! Thank you for delivering the lecture. I found it really useful!

[@rizarais]

Thank you for explaining Mill's philosophy in such a simplified manner. He is one of my most favorite philosophers as well.

[@tomrichey]

My pleasure! Thanks for supporting my work!

[@kiarahannaquinncilla2181]

Never have I received such a clear, simple, and understandable explanation of J.S. Mill's philosophy. Thank you so much for this.

[@youngblack4591]

I barely comment on people's lectures but I felt that I had to do it at least for time. I am taking World History and your lectures have been useful to me. I like the way you resume big and important event without leaving relevant details... Thank you so much

[@vpcreationsunlimited]

In addition to studying my notes and text book, i am listening to your videos. I hope this all helps to remember the important facts. Your explanation is clear and concise and easy to understand. Thanks.

[@ifewitlovegodslove1078]

This was soo helpful! You made it easy to understand and enjoyable! Thank you!

[@adamscarf6803]

I find your political thought videos very helpful and have used them as a study tool in preparation for exams. Thanks alot keep at it you have a knack for this!

[@dpdug]

Excellent video, helping me to recap and revise for my finals!

[@tomrichey]

Glad I could help!

[@chriskuhl2406]

Great job done on the part of the video presenter. I love lectures like these. I used to find these thinkers fascinating, but have never delved any deeper unless it was part of a college experience. Now that I'm done with my basic courses, I have re-entered this world that provides me greater comfort than the popularized mass culture seen before me. Sure I still watch a few television shows or play a few games every once in a while to keep in touch with popular culture, but the classics are too timeless to simply abandon. Perhaps these two selves, the geeky nerdy personality type who enjoys comic books or anime, and the life of the far flung intellectual creative, who finds free thought equally interesting, can be somehow brought into unison.

[@tomrichey]

Indeed, man! Typically, after I finish filming one of these, I watch some How I Met Your Mother on Netflix! Glad you enjoyed the lecture and I hope I've earned your subscription.

[@chriskuhl2406]

Which episodes have you seen so far? I like the one where Neil Patrick Harris announces all the legendary nights, such as the Mariachi band and bringing a horse into the bar. He is also a good actor in Million Ways to Die in the West.

[@ericthered9655]

It helps to discuss things by their proper name. Men were not privileged nor women prohibited. We can't see things clearly using that language. At that time, men had yet to provide women with equality. Humans didn't wash up on shore to find modern office buildings with AC and high speed internet. Men didn't call dibs on everything and prevent women from taking part. People must disabuse themselves of that worldview. In the early days, men were able to take advantage of natural abilities women didn't possess. Those abilities made men able to accomplish things women were incapable of. Women only had the potential to do many things after men provided the means. To deny a man the opportunity to work as a lumberjack would have violated his rights. To fail to make lumberjacking easy enough so a woman can compete, isn't that same denial. We need to stop looking at equality as something men stood in the way of. Nature stood in the way of women's equality. Men shored up the playing field for women and gifted them the equal opportunity they would never have without them. Sorry if it took too long.

[@morganhunt5647]

An important point in The Subjection of Women: Mill saw that the denial of equal rights to women was counterproductive to society. When women were given the liberty to think up new ideas and contribute them to society, society progressed and became better off.

[@benjaminhicks1318]

Thanks for the videos Tom! I watch your videos pertaining to freedom theorists and their fantastic. Shout out to your video on Hobbes and Locke. They were factual and entertaining, what more can a student ask for. If you could do a video on Edmond Burke, and Karol Marx you would make my day!

[@tomrichey]

Benjamin Hicks Burke actually made his way into my "Isms" video and maybe at some point I will give him a full treatment. Glad you can see the freedom theme in a lot of my work. I hope to do what I can to help people understand the idea of freedom and why it's important.

[@MrByrd-ep5pd]

This discussion omits entirely the important distinction that permeates Mill's "Utilitarianism". And that distinction concerns the 'qualitative distinction between pleasures'. In this later work ('Utilitarianism'), liberty can and should be limited by the state if that limitation leads to qualitatively superior pleasures for the 'greatest number'. Ignoring this distinction can lead to a distorted view of Mill's mature moral theory.

[@SomboonCM]

I was looking for a deeper dive. A unique perspective. This seems to be just the presentation of facts that are easy to find elsewhere. What's the point? I could do a video about what you said about the topic, what point would there be to watch it if people could just watch your video?

[@jasonandtrudimanzi5638]

My first introduction to Mill; definitely feel enthused to study more on this subject. Thank you!

[@grenmoyo3968]

Im a little disappointed you didnt use the thought experiment of the people tied to a train track. Or the fat man and the truck. You have 4 people tied to a train track at a junction and on the other junction has just one person. You know none of them. You cant stop the train. Its going for the 4 people and you have to choose which track the train takes. Do you leave it and have the 4 die or do you press the button and kill the one person instead. A utilitarian would choose the single person. The fat man is more complex. You and a fat guy you dont know are standing over an overhang of a street. The man is huge and there is a person crossing the street, unbeknownst to her a car is barring down on her and you have the option of stopping the car by pushing the fat man off the overhang to stop the car. The car will stop and the man will die and you saved the woman. Fo you leave the man alone and watch in horror as the woman dies or do you push him off to save her. A utilitarian would not push the man. Because the man isnt part of the incident thus his death isnt a consequence of the action you take but is just murder.

[@GillianAmara]

Thank you for your lectures on these philosophers it has really helped me alot, please can you do a video on Karl Marx's philosophy

[@jamilkohistani123]

Great lecture .... thank you sir

[@marysabonnema2593]

This was really helpful! Thanks so much :)

[@Physical_Teacher.]

Study well 👍

[@SuperRoflcopter12345]

Thank you for your splendid work! Many of your videos have been very helpful to my studying.

[@sarasaleem2276]

You make things easy to understand. Love from 🇵🇰

[@Potencyfunction]

What do mean by limits? At what level personal or political?

[@hippietallywack7783]

This helped so much! Thank you!

[@dubadebclarissel.8874]

Shout out es em yu sayang tuition namin senyo puros youtube nagtuturo samin 😑

[@ozzyr.l.3694]

"The invisible hand," Omg Tom, really xD, and splendid video, really helped me grasp the material that other wise might've been tricky to take in.

[@ankitaghoshal5505]

Sir please explain to board working......

[@nataliavargasestrada6272]

Hi Tom! Thanks for the videos! Just one thing. In 5:50 you indicate that the early liberals did not address the gender issues of their time. Carole Pateman in the Sexual Contract explains how early liberals justified denying liberty to women. Personally, I have found references to denying women liberty in Hobbes's Leviathan and Rousseau's Social Contract. (I did a paper on this a few weeks ago.- Is not like I'm super smart. Just leaving it here because discovering Carole Pateman was one of the nicest things of this semester!

[@CM-ns1uf]

Mr. Richey, what do you think Mills would say about torture? if he believes in utilitarianism, would not Mills then support torture? (Im writing a short paper on this subject) Which then implies that he supports 'for the greater good' that yes it is ok to hurt someone if it benefits the majority.

[@seanoneill465]

excellent point and this is why I'm not a utilitarian although I do believe in society should be utial.

[@pushista9322]

So basically Harriet Tailor was behind at least one of Mill's books... That just proves how desperate women's position was - she didn't dare to write herself.

[@seanoneill465]

intresting inference, I am in doubt of the notion of female suppression. I understand the legal principals and how they could be misconstrued to fit that narrative.

[@aerogun18]

PLEASE, let's not call John Stuart Mill a feminist. :P

[@conlanmunari4407]

Oh no! Wouldn't that be horrible! :o

[@عائشةالحمادي-ذ3ت]

thank you.. very useful

[@tomrichey]

You're welcome!

[@felixmak4727]

John S Mill was the reincarnation of George Washington, and they looked similar. Both Died approximately at the age of 67 (for Mills he was 2 weeks before his birthday) 1st U.S. president G. W. 1732 - 1799 (and 7 years later) John S Mill 1806 - 1873

[@skyking8420]

Tom, you simplify the complicated for me as usual....I aspire to gain from your gift of communication...thank you

[@tomrichey]

You're quite welcome. Glad I've been able to help you!

[@anujap8881]

Thank you so much, Tom Richey. Your videos helped me a lot last year in my philosophy exams and this year as well (and somewhat in my Political Thought paper too.) So yes, you just helped a student in India, who has her exams tomorrow.

[@tomrichey]

Anuja Singh Thank you so much for sharing this with me! I'm always glad when my videos help people and I'm even more excited about it when people halfway across the world are benefiting from my work. Good luck on your exam tomorrow!

[@amorrissey9548]

She wasn't his wife. She was married to someone else. They had a chaste relationship, a marriage of the minds if you will.

[@tomrichey]

+Alexandra Morrissey This was before the death of her first husband. They married two years after her first husband's death.

[@RandallChase1]

I love that Greg Otto on the show American Housewife writes the book: “John Stuart Mill and the Consequences of a Thoroughgoing Empiricist Outlook” I’d bet you could help actually write this book.

[@athanasia6660]

Can you do a video about Georg Hegel and Friedrich Nietzsche? You’re the only person in KZbin who’s not boring. Everyone else talks so slow and in monotone.

[@ANL88424]

Do you have any videos about challenges to classical liberalism? for example negative and positive outcomes of classical liberalism? I may have to argue this on a position paper and I'd like to know to what extend we should embrace classical liberal ideologies. If you have time, please respond. Thanks.

[@android927]

I think that you could have done a better job explaining _On Liberty_. You mainly focused on the extent to which a government has control over the individual, while _On Liberty_ also puts a large emphasis on the control that society at large has over the behaviors of individuals, as can be seen in the following passage: "If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."

[@seanoneill465]

I've hear info to the contrary. although uncommon there are records of women who voted, reason because they had inherited property, and property ownership was the qualifying factor. not sex. I am impartial to this concept of legal representation.

[@DJsaima]

concise to the point thank you

[@Wisehousepublishingunlimited]

Thank you for this video. An excellent summary of this magnificent book.

[@ugurseyfettinaktug3506]

Can you share any video on the spirit of the age by John Stuart Mill

[@tomrichey]

Uğur Seyfettin Aktuğ Unfortunately, I've never read it. Perhaps I should?

[@munisibodov358]

thanx very much sir)) tomrichey can u make some videos about Jean Jaque Roussue and Edmund Burke

[@montanahovatter8734]

Wow! how did ur hand git cuttt of

[@tomrichey]

LOL IKR! ;D

[@montanahovatter8734]

Haha! Can I ask you a question? Where do you think would be a good starting point for someone who wishes to study philosophy? Should I go back to ancient Greece and work my way through until I reach contemporary? I guess this might be a subjective question, but you are more learned than I and I figure you might be able to point me somewhere! Thank you!

[@dannnnnnnnnnnnnnn595]

GREAT JOB.. Used these ideas for my presentation.

[@logangomez4475]

What did philosopher john Stuart mill think about confirmation bias?

[@GursimranJammutoCanada]

Tom richy... Wonderful explanation sir 😇

[@Ko-vb9mq]

Classical liberal socialist

[@sudhirkumarrvlogs]

thank you sir can you make videos on Indian political thoughts

[@zhushishuo]

John is one of my fav too

[@carolynwebster9441]

Great video! Just what I needed -- a bird's eye view of Mill. I'm doing a contrast of Mill and Kant. Thanks for the assistance! Keep up the wonderful work.

[@tomrichey]

I'm glad I could help you! I hope to tackle Kant and some other philosophers in similar videos down the road.

[@chrisucl]

It helps when a philosophy teacher has an accent which is sexy as hell! Where is that accent from?

[@omega15593]

Hey Tom, I originally found your amazing content when researching for an essay on Peter the Great, now I'm writing another essay on John Stuart Mill and was very happy to see that you had an awesome video on who he was. Keep doing what you're doing with these awesome videos and thank you!

[@missfatima8811]

I never knew about his wife, that's super cool, and haha at #wcw

[@AnkurJhavery]

Very good work. Please share some videos on Derrida's deconstruction theory.

[@tomrichey]

Ankur jhavery Thanks! As for Derrida, I have no idea who that is...

[@becky6816]

Thankyou 🌸

[@torresbarts]

I though this video was well made :) It helped me prepare a bit more for my Philosophy test. Good work !

[@tomrichey]

Thanks! I hope your test goes well!

[@malikje9247]

nice sir its very helpful in my study thanks be happy

[@sukhlegend2614]

Very easy to follow. Thank you. from London

[@nhbastian]

Mr. Richey, You've done a fantastic job summarizing Mill's thought and making it understandable for young and old alike. I too teach AP Euro and I'm indebted to you for creating this eight minute masterpiece. With your permission, I would like to show it to my students. Thank you. Nick Bastian, Olathe South High School, Olathe, KS

[@NeonAtary777]

thanks a lot I have an in class essay about Mills books and this helped me a lot !

[@iDYPilms]

Is there a half thumbs up half thumbs down? LOL. I think it was the abridged yet concise edition. Done well.

[@tomrichey]

+FWY Pilms That's what it was meant to be. You can go ahead and give it a thumbs up! Haha

[@arvin20071]

Clear and succinct. Thank you.

[@tomrichey]

Cool! Glad you liked it! I did this one kind of off the cuff, so I'm glad it made sense to someone.

[@mgallegos94]

That's an epic intro.

[@liammac3778]

Thanks Tom

[@kenrichard4575]

I read this book when I was 12 years old.

[@dailymqr6455]

THANK YOU. i would like to see a lecture on thomas R. malthus, Tom

[@thinkinginpolitics5285]

Wonderful

[@aravindm4584]

good

[@Kralperri]

You're a great teacher! I found your channel last week and I enjoy watching your videos very much! Greetings from Sweden :)

[@rodrigopena6897]

Hey Tom, thank you so much, this has help me to have a better understanding on John S. Mill, thanks again!