Hearted Youtube comments on Then & Now (@ThenNow) channel.

  1. Full disclosure, I'm a historian. Overall, this is a very good video, but it makes it sound as if this was a Southern problem alone. While the South was the bastion of hard-core racism, the Klan was very active in the North. There's an image if the Klan in this video in which banners proclaiming that this is the Muncie, Illinois chapter are prominently displayed.
    3800
  2. I have never seen a better concretizing of theory than this video. You continue to maintain a philosophical rigor while making the content accessible. That is not easy and this channel is the best at it.
    2000
  3. From an anthropological and historical point of view it makes a lot of sense that so many wild thinkers, nonetheless ones that pumped out the concept of dialectics, originated from Germany. A huge melting pot of Europe, constantly swaying between different more powerful nation states, etc. I was excited to see this video as I always had a similar thesis of Germany in my head. It really does seem like a different place. Great video as always, dude.
    1700
  4. You wrote a book on Marx and put it on YouTube. Legendary behavior by you.
    1200
  5. I have been dealing with a lot of existential depression. I started 2022 with it, got covid and ironically felt better, since it temporarily dropped me to the bottom of Maslow's hierarchy, giving me a more tangible struggle. A few months later it has returned. I'm going to start therapy in the near future, as I have finally conceded that the complexity of the world and the meta complexity of my experience of it is too dense for me to fully decipher without some help. I say all this to contextualize how valuable I've found your channel in the last week since I came across it. In a world where so often more emphasis is placed on the delivery mechanism of ideas than the formulation of the ideas themselves, you take care to deeply consider the topic, provide many ideas, perspectives, and pieces of evidence, and present them humbly. It's admirable. Thank you and best wishes!
    1100
  6. I love it when documentary makers walk pointlessly away from the camera into a baren land as if they're late for an important meeting
    850
  7. This is an amazing service you’re providing and a much needed alternative to the School of Lite.
    758
  8. Dude, I have no idea how you make these videos. Just insane how comprehensive these are. Absolute masterpiece. Thanks for allowing me to lend my voice once again.
    675
  9. Correction: Kropotkin didn't believe, like Rousseau, that humans are inherently good. In Anarchist: Morality and Ethics: Origin and Development he clarifies that he believes humans have a dual human nature, made up of both egotistic and mutualistic tendencies, with one tendency manifesting itself more than the other depending on a combination of factors in the natural and social environment a given people find themselves in. Also, the PYD of Rojava aren't anarchists. Rather, their ideology takes aspects of anarchism – especially the philosophy of social ecology developed by Murray Bookchin – but blends them with homegrown Kurdish ideas and practices. Other than that, a very good introduction. Though the omission of Emma Goldman as one of classical anarchism's most important theorists is a mistake. She, more than anyone, did an excellent job of trying to reconcile the Max Stirner strain of philosophical egoism with Kropotkinian economics.
    623
  10. I graduated with a masters in sociology ten years ago. And then i worked ten years in a clinical setting within mental healthcare, where i at some points almost became convinced that i had wasted my time at university. I am slowly coming out of that mental state thank God, and this video, as well as many others in the series, is like light at the end of that tunnel.
    589
  11. This has to be the best intro to Baudrillard I’ve ever seen. And it’s not like Baudrillard is an easy thinker to wrap one’s mind around. Props to you man!
    524
  12. THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENT OF THE YEAR
    502
  13. Honestly, the best independent documentary channel on youtube
    481
  14. EXPLAIN DELEUZE TO ME RIG— Oh nice. Thanks
    421
  15. In an age where hordes of channels are exporting their entire production pipeline to AI in order to deliver low brow, low quality, frankly insulting content to monetize people's desire for long form video essays, you stand out as an exceptional example of how this format should be used. I am in awe of the quality of every single aspect of your work, and I cannot imagine how hard you work to get this out in the time frame that you do. May your curiosity and strive for excellence long continue
    364
  16. It's a pity this channel doesn't have at least a million followers. The videos are super well researched and reliable. I can even use them as a reference in academic writing.
    350
  17. Oh my gosh, this was an incredible deep-dive. I recently read the book "What Tech Calls Thinking," which illuminates how Silicon Valley has created this mythos of creation and freedom around themselves, and how none of it is really real. Your "history of the future" fits neatly beside these ideas, and it's all so frustrating and disheartening. But here's to hoping we can imagine a new future 🔥💜
    346
  18. This genuinely turned out so well. This really is one of your best. I definitely didn't expect this to be so in-depth and so representative of the subtextual context with Spinoza! Reading the Ethics alone, in my mind, still doesn't get his objectives across, and you nailed those objectives here. Truly, again, did not expect this video to turn out so well. Even happier that I was able to be apart of this. Thanks for allowing me to be apart of this! (Sorry in advance to everyone, Lewis's voice is much better than mine. My voice kind of sucks. But, you need the bad to recognize the good, yeah?)
    340
  19. Happy to put my kermit the frog voice to use once again! Seriously though, I have no idea how you do these. An absolute ton of work. Thanks for doing this, and thanks for having me on here!
    329
  20. I have a brilliant Chinese high-school student living with me. We have watched three of your videos, including this one, together. Each one took 1 1/2 hrs or more because we stop it so often to discuss what it means historically, philosophically, linguisticly, scientifically - you name it. Today he said he has learned more from those 3 videos and our discussions than in a whole year of philosophy and history in his private school. Thank you for that pleasure.
    327
  21. How is this channel not bigger
    319
  22. It is actually ridiculous the speed at which you consistently produce amazing, educational works. You are an inspiration.
    312
  23. Make more videos about Deleuze please!
    311
  24. I think Hegel would be happy to see his ideas brought to life in such a lucid and comprehensive work, if not a bit jealous of your clarity 😊 Fantastic job!
    216
  25. It finally happened! Super stoked to watch.
    210
  26. Another valuable video from Then and Now. One thing it really helped me think about - in terms of how to explain - is the contested meaning of the term 'white supremacy' here in the States. Some folks - usually the progressive wing of our political left - points out (I think fairly) that white supremacy still exists in many US system today (justice, schools, financial, housing). Members of the political right then retort that white supremacy surely doesn't exist today, because in their mind, white supremacy means lynching, burning crosses on lawns, and overt racism (shouting slurs, etc). We don't do those things today, they say, so white supremacy is a thing of the past. But listen to how the authors and examples in the video use the term 'white supremacy.' Lynching and overt racial terror were not examples of white supremacy, but tools to use in the service of white supremacy. White supremacy was the idea - whites on the top of the social order - that lynching and racial intimidation were tools in the service of. So, if seen that way, it is easy to see how white supremacy can (and does?) exist even in the absence of SOME tools that have been used in its service. White supremacy is the idea of whites being at the top of a social order, and that belief and cultural attitude can persist long after we stop burning crosses on lawns.
    207
  27. Holy shit, how could this unmonetized?! Consider me another patron. Your content is so thoughtful and genuine, and well-worth 10 cups of coffee. The algorithm devours all humanity i guess. Very sorry to hear that. Please don't stop making such insightful content, I share it with my students and several of them have mentioned it is among the most meaningful of the readings we've done throughout the semester. Thank you very much for your work.
    178
  28. I can’t believe I’ve never run across this channel. I just sunk almost an hour into watching these videos. Some of the best editing and writing I’ve seen in YouTube’s philosophy channels, in my opinion.
    174
  29. Your thoughts and production are to me the best thing on this platform right now. Thank you for doing this, you are appreciated.
    174
  30. This video is very well put together. The background music even helps me stay focused on what you are saying. I will be pledging some $ towards your channel. Thanks. Keep up the good work.
    163
  31. I will never get over how much that painted portrait of Hegel looks like Werner Herzog.
    158
  32. This video actually inspires me to read Rousseau.
    155
  33. Only 15 mins in and this video has helped me more than my psychologists!!
    153
  34. I CANT FREAKING WAIT TWO HOURS OF HEGEL!!!!
    151
  35. I've watched this video somewhere around 10 times. I love the Sopranos. Actually, the show contains sub-detectable doses of history and philosophy, kind of like when you hide medicine in the food of a sick child. I also like how each episode of the show is a lower-resolution picture of the whole, which means you can start watching at any point and still be engrossed in the story. Finally, I'd like to point out Tony's obsession with the History Channel. You're doing good work.
    141
  36. Now this is wholesome.
    136
  37. Mate, you have outdone yourself again! I'm feeling grateful for living in an age where presentations of complex ideas are shared for free to the public, I think it really matters. I've never donated before on a video but had to chuck in a few pounds even though I'm very poor atm 😊
    134
  38. This was fantastic once more Lewis, cheers!
    121
  39. I'm usually kind of reluctant to write comments, but I have to say that Your channel is a real gem and these videos that You make, are truly almost one-of-a-kind: deep, insightful, well-rounded, amazingly picturesque and really interesting to watch and ponder with... It's just really brilliant, top-notch content in my opinion. Hopefully more people would appreciate it.
    113
  40. Such a great video. Your output and quality amazes me. This one hits extremely home with me. I'm from Kansas City, as many know (many do not) there is a Kansas City, Missouri, (what most think of) and a Kansas City, Kansas. The Kansas side is one of the most diverse areas in the United States due to immigration. Since then, white populations have, for the most part, slowly left. There is this attitude that it is a "rough" or "bad area" where you don't want to go or live. This attitude has all but gotten worse since the white-flight that happened after the end of American manufacturing. Yet, crime in the area with the rise of immigration has shrunk. It is less than what it was with a traditional anglo-population. You ask most in the Kansas City area and they would be shocked simply by way of how stigmatized the area is.
    107
  41. Me: I can't crack this assignment on Foucault... Then & Now: *posts video on Foucault* Me: Is this A SIGN??
    94
  42. Yeaaaah mate, gimme some of that spicy enlightenment dialectic, love your work!
    89
  43. Why would this channel get demonetized? It’s so educational
    88
  44. This may be one of the most important videos on this platform. I hope it reaches a wide audience.
    83
  45. Really great work with this one. Honest, calm, well tought-out artwork, great quotes, deep enough. Quite superb actually. Thanks.
    81
  46. This is absolutely beautiful. You are becoming one of the most talented, and fast improving, philosophy channels.
    80
  47. Your videos are a breath of fresh air Lewis. Excellent work. Eloquently written. Well done.
    79
  48. This is brilliant. The choice of theme, the polissemy of the concept, but most of all, your film skills. This channel needs a lot more attention!
    77
  49. Then & Now is my favorite YouTube channel on philosophy. It is a channel that consistently releases videos. I have learned about so many different topics and subjects that I never would have come upon on my own. I have yet to ever Patreon a creator, but I will change that this weekend. I hope you know just how good you are at what you do, and how much of an impact your work has had on me.
    76
  50. You are one of the few people on YouTube that make phenomenal videos which have profound value. I always learn something from your videos and the philosophers you mention. Also please do not be disheartened if some of your videos do not become “viral” or get a huge amount of views. That is what separates your channel from the others (and gives you class). As I see it, your video help millions of people learn about the thoughts of the great philosophers, in a visual format. Keep up the great work. :)
    75