A History of Ideas Podcast
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the work of key philosophers and their theories.
Episodes to download
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Neuropsychologist Paul Broks on Wittgenstein
Fri 7 Aug 2015
Paul Broks looks at the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and the problem of 'other minds'.
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Philosopher Clare Carlisle on Reality and Perception
Thu 6 Aug 2015
Clare Carlisle grapples with Bishop Berkley's idea that objects only exist in our minds.
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Physicist Tara Shears on Falsification
Wed 5 Aug 2015
How can we separate real science from mumbo jumbo? Physicist Tara Shears investigates.
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Lawyer Harry Potter on Eyewitness Testimony
Tue 4 Aug 2015
Barrister Harry Potter on whether we can believe our eyes.
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How Can I Know Anything at All?
Mon 3 Aug 2015
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how we can know anything at all.
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Writer Lisa Appignanesi on the Love of Children
Fri 31 Jul 2015
How should we love our children? Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau had some great ideas.
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Psychotherapist Mark Vernon on Freud
Thu 30 Jul 2015
What is love? Psychotherapist Mark Vernon looks at Freud's ideas on the Greek god Eros.
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Theologian Giles Fraser on Altruism
Wed 29 Jul 2015
Giles Fraser discusses gene theory versus altruism with Tom Stoppard and Armand Leroi.
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Classicist Edith Hall on Aristophanes in Plato
Tue 28 Jul 2015
Classicist Edith Hall on Aristophanes's explanation of love.
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Philosopher Timothy Secret on Ancestor Worship
Fri 24 Jul 2015
Timothy Secret on Confucius. To live well together we must first consider the dead.
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Philosopher Angie Hobbs on Plato's Philosopher Kings
Thu 23 Jul 2015
Angie Hobbs asks if the ideal state would be run by philosophers not politicians.
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Economist Kate Barker on the Free Market
Wed 22 Jul 2015
Is a free market the best foundation for a fair, dynamic society?
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Historian Justin Champion on Toleration
Tue 21 Jul 2015
Professor Justin Champion examines Locke's Letter on Toleration.
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How Should We Live Together?
Mon 20 Jul 2015
Melvyn Bragg and guests debate how we should live together.
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Philosopher Barry Smith on Descartes and Consciousness
Fri 17 Apr 2015
Philosopher Barry Smith explores ideas about consciousness.
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Philosopher Jules Evans on Jung and the Mind
Thu 16 Apr 2015
Jules Evans explores Jung and the shadow inside all of us.
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Writer AL Kennedy on Sartre and the Individual
Wed 15 Apr 2015
Writer AL Kennedy explores existentialist ideas about the individual.
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Paul Broks on John Locke and Personal Identity
Tue 14 Apr 2015
Paul Broks asks how we can be sure we are the same person that we were yesterday.
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What Does It Mean to Be Me?
Mon 13 Apr 2015
Barry Smith, Paul Broks, AL Kennedy and Jules Evans discuss the self.
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Historian Alice Taylor on Habeas Corpus
Fri 10 Apr 2015
Historian Alice Taylor on the slippery justice of extrajudicial detention.
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Thomas Hobbes and Civil Disobedience
Thu 9 Apr 2015
Criminologist David Wilson looks at Thomas Hobbes and his 'social contract' theory.
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Philosopher Angie Hobbs on the Veil of Ignorance
Wed 8 Apr 2015
Angie Hobbs, Leif Wenar and David Runciman debate and explore the ideas of John Rawls.
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Barrister Harry Potter on Deterrence
Tue 7 Apr 2015
In this edition of a series of programmes on justice, Harry Potter examines deterrence.
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Ayn Rand and Selfishness
Fri 3 Apr 2015
Neuropsychologist Paul Broks looks at the idea of leading a good life by being selfish.
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Naomi Appleton on the Buddha's Four Noble Truths
Thu 2 Apr 2015
Naomi Appleton explores the Buddha's Four Noble Truths.
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Justin Champion on Max Weber and the Protestant Ethic
Wed 1 Apr 2015
Justin Champion looks at the roots of our culture's belief in the moral power of hard work
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Philosopher Jules Evans on Aristotle and Flourishing
Tue 31 Mar 2015
Philosopher Jules Evans asks Gus O'Donnell how to measure the good life.
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