This class will be on January 9th. Having just finished "An invitation to Pain" by Adler, I decided to make this reading a "painful" one. We will be reading Volume 6 pages 1-47 John Stuart Mill's "Childhood and Youth" from Autobiography. (Chapters 1-3 on the link). DO NOT TRY TO READ IT IN ONE SITTING. You will want to start on it very soon and read 3-4 pages a day. I especially want you to focus and understand pages 23-35. You will probably have to look up quite a few words (I did - I almost gave up on it a couple of times, but I am glad I didn't) and re-read a lot of paragraphs.
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Here are some ideas to help you study this reading:-Understand the following terms: Deism, Stoic, Epicurean, Cynic, Jeremy Bentham and Benthamism, Utilitarianism, English liberalism.
-Seek answers to some of the following questions:
- Throughout your reading, it would be helpful to have a paper with 4 columns - write on top: Books/disciplines, methods, events/experiences, people - then take notes under those headings of the things that influenced his education
- What books and disciplines did Mill study from ages 0-8? 8-12? In his teens?
- What were his methods of study during those times?
- What were important events/experiences in his education?
- Who were important influences on him? (people) Why?
- How did his father feel about religion? (pg 23-27) Why? What WERE his moral convictions? (pg 27-29)
- How do you feel about these moral convictions? What do you agree or disagree with? Why? (this question would make a very interesting paper! I hope someone takes it on!)
- What was his view of tolerance? Of how to educate?
- What did Mill adopt as his "religion"? Why? (pg 36-38)
- How did his "profession" help him or hinder him in his education? (pg 45-47)
Where do personal moral codes or ethical systems come from? Why do people have different systems/codes, and how does one go about protecting peoples right to believe what morals they believe when those codes are so very different? At what point should tolerance cease?
ReplyDeleteHow do you think atheists view the world? I'm just not exactly understanding James Mills' beliefs on religion...
ReplyDeleteAfter reading about Mill, how do you think he might feel towards some of the issues that are around today, such as gun control?
ReplyDeleteMill believed that Charles Austen was his greatest influence because he felt equality even though Austen was older more intellectual and better in most aspects.
ReplyDeleteI know in my life i have those people that are way smarter than me by far.
How can we feel equality and learn from those that are have more intellect?
On pg 41 it talkes about Mr. Austin and how he was very intelligent and had an opinion about everything, but he was a perfectionist and was never satisfied with His work. I feel like I can relate a little bit, so my question is:
ReplyDeleteHow can we find the balance? How do we work hard and be diligent (like John Stuart Mill) but also know when to be happy with our accomplishments?
What is more important in an education: a living mentor or a dead one?
ReplyDelete