How did George Eliot become one of the greatest English writers and thinkers of her time? We look at her education and further development of her worldview while learning more about the philosophical scene of the time.

• Why did she prefer John Stuart Mill to Jeremy Bentham?
• How did John Stuart Mill prove that gender equality is for the greater good in the 19th century?
• Why did Feuerbach disagree with Jeremy Bentham about pain?
• Why did Nietzshe hated them all and what does it tell us about public opinion?

George Eliot's philosophy was influenced by multiple thinkers of her time. This time we will see how she:

• got acquainted with utilitarianism while working as an editor of a famous utilitarian journal, The Westminster Review;
• translated Feuerbach and absorbed his ideas on pain, religion and love.

This is the first part of the story of George Eliot's philosophical development. Join me next time to listen to the end of this story that gets even more fascinating and eye-opening.

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05:27 it goes: "uniform harmony and clearness of style which impart to the volumes before us" – don't know why I said "impact"...

00:00 George Eliot's education

03:56 How young Eliot gives up religion

07:07 Eliot's relationship with utilitarianism

09:38 John Stuart Mill for gender equality

11:38 Pain or pleasure: utilitarianism vs. Feuerbach

14:47 Individuality and societal pressure (and why Nietzshe hated the English)

18:59 Divine human qualities: why personal relationships are the greatest achievement

Find edited transcripts at https://noinkling.wixsite.com/home.

You can also direct your opinions, corrections and indignant remarks to sofiya1721@gmail.com.

Huge thanks to Music for Makers for the music!