Introduction to Edmund Burke and Reflections on the Revolution in France 

This really is a gem of a channel.

Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. More Burke, please.

Thank you! So few people realise that American Conservatism is a strand of liberalism, especially when you consider a lot of the values it holds. Amazing video.

Outstanding! Puts Burke's ideas in context of his life and his historic era-- an indispensable -- yet far too rare -- approach. Bravo!

Thanks Dr. Johnson. I’m always glad to see the discussion on the difference between classic conservatism and modern “conservatism.” I think what you have been doing with each political theory, analyzing the problems in each, as well as what they are supposed to be, then comparing them in context of changing problems and context today is important. Even though I have a libertarian streak, I think there’s problems with it, yet there was a moment in 2012 where extreme libertarian Tom Woods challenged Mark Levin to a debate on George Washington’s philosophy and going to congress for permission to wage war, while writing essays/articles about Burke and Russell Kirk, especially on interventionism. Levin used platform control and a tactic of insult and escape. He refused to have the debate in long form, because Woods took a tac of giving classic conservatism it’s due to differentiate it from modern neoconservatism, and also would have pointed out from the free market side of things how oppositional, and inflationary modern conservative corporatism is to localized resources and money for more entrepreneurship and self correcting, self organization. I think that really says something, because Woods, coming out of Rothbard, has some really bad ideas, like fully privatizing the military, anarchy, or chalking every human up to property rights, making children their parents’ property with no rights. The fact he wouldn’t address any of this and had to avoid debate shows what a threat it is to these corrupt ideologies and two political parties to have a populace who is actually semi educated on their own chain of ideas and what’s actually behind their propositional identity badge slogans. You’ll never get a real education on the ideas of Karl Popper from left wing media or Stephanie Miller, any more than you’ll get a real education on Burke, Scruton, from modern “free market” “conservatism” on Fox News and Hannity’s America, or Hayek and John Stuart Mill (let alone a Petersonian classic liberalism) from the economist. Beyond name dropping for authority, and cherry picking, it’s simply not in their interest.

Just bought the book I love this channel! I just finished your book about Jung! One of my favorite books that I have read this year!

Looking forward to this. Seems like an obvious spot to begin reviewing where we've come from

Ready for class 🤓📖📚✍🏻☕️

Interesting; thank you.

"Mental Gymnastics" I was looking for that term. Great intro.

Great video. Great channel.

When I read a biography of Burke I was surprised to find out he was a Whig. As I was reading his reflections I had just assumed he was a Tory. But I think that speaks to the complexity and nuance of his thought. His opposition to the French Revolution was not so much because it rejected the monarchy, but because of the violent manner (both literally and figuratively) in which it eradicated the monarchy. My sense is that Burke could conceive of legitimate way in which a society might decide to reform or move on from its monarchical government (please correct me if you think I have the wrong impression). In any case there is nothing in Burke’s political thought that would suggest support for the absolute authority of monarchy for all time and in all places.

Are you planning to do a video on Buckley Jr, his influence is deeply harmful.

Hi Dr. Johnson, I watched your videos on Burke awhile back, and really enjoyed them. I recall you saying that you had your students read sections of "Reflections...". What would be a good way of dividing "Reflections on the Revolution in France" into sections since there are no chapters? Are there good stopping points for breaking up the text? I think Burke is interesting, but when I read him straight through the text eventually starts to feel like one long ramble . I would like to be better able to organize Burke's thinking in my own head as I read along. Thanks.

Thomas Paine totally disagreed with Burke on many fronts. Paine supported the French Revolution while Burke completely opposed it and attacked it philosophically. I'd suggest read Paine's Rights of Man as well. If Paine's political philosophy was revolutionary, then Burke's was absolutely counter-revolutionary.