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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Archaeologist Matt Pope on tools and human evolution
Fri 30 Jan 2015
Archaeologist Matt pope looks at the role of technology in early human evolution.
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Surgeon Gabriel Weston on medical technology
Thu 29 Jan 2015
Surgeon Gabriel Weston sees how medical technology has changed us.
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Historian Justin Champion on Francis Bacon
Wed 28 Jan 2015
Historian Justin Champion on 17th-century polymath Francis Bacon.
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Writer Tom Chatfield: Has technology rewired our brains?
Tue 27 Jan 2015
Tom Chatfield on whether modern technology enhances or diminishes us.
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How Has Technology Changed Us?
Mon 26 Jan 2015
Melvyn Bragg is joined by Tom Chatfield, Gabriel Weston, Justin Champion and Matt Pope.
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Giles Fraser on Wittgenstein and Blade Runner
Fri 23 Jan 2015
Theologian Giles Fraser on Wittgenstein and Blade Runner
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Barry Smith on Noam Chomsky and Human Language
Thu 22 Jan 2015
Philosopher Barry Smith on Noam Chomsky and human language
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Catharine Edwards on Seneca and facing death.
Wed 21 Jan 2015
Only humans know they will die. Catharine Edwards on the Stoic philosopher Seneca
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Simon Schaffer on humans, apes and Carl Linnaeus
Tue 20 Jan 2015
Simon Schaffer on botanist Carl Linnaeus who first classified humans among the apes
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Historian Justin Champion on William Whiston's Comet Theory
Thu 15 Jan 2015
Historian Justin Champion on William Whiston, the spiritual father of the Philae lander.
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Theologian Giles Fraser on Thomas Aquinas
Thu 15 Jan 2015
Theologian Giles Fraser on brilliant medieval scholar St Thomas Aquinas.
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Astronomer Carole Mundell on the Big Bang
Wed 14 Jan 2015
What put the bang in the Big Bang? Can scientists tell us what happened before creation?
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Jessica Frazier on Creation Myths
Tue 13 Jan 2015
How did the world begin? Jessica Frazier canvases the views of the great religions.
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How Did Everything Begin?
Mon 12 Jan 2015
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the origins of everything.
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Philosopher Angie Hobbs on the Value of Conscience
Fri 28 Nov 2014
Philosopher Angie Hobbs on the value of conscience and moral intuition.
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Lawyer Harry Potter on Morality and the Law
Thu 27 Nov 2014
Lawyer Harry Potter examines whether the law should enforce good morals.
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Neuro-psychologist Paul Broks on Morality and the Brain
Wed 26 Nov 2014
Neuropsychologist Paul Broks on moral decisions and the brain.
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Theologian Giles Fraser on Moral character
Tue 25 Nov 2014
Giles Fraser on moral character and Aristotle's Virtue ethics
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How Can I Tell Right From Wrong?
Mon 24 Nov 2014
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss different ideas of morality.
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Philosopher Angie Hobbs on Beauty and Morality
Fri 21 Nov 2014
Philosopher Angie Hobbs examines whether beautiful things are also moral.
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Historian Simon Schaffer on Beauty and Evolution
Thu 20 Nov 2014
Historian Simon Schaffer on whether evolutionary science explains the existence of beauty.
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Vicky Neale on the Mathematics of Beauty
Wed 19 Nov 2014
Mathematician Vicky Neale on the mathematics of beauty and the beauty of mathematics.
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Barry Smith on the Philosophy of Good Taste
Tue 18 Nov 2014
Philosopher Barry Smith on David Hume's ideas about cultivating good taste.
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Why Are Things Beautiful?
Mon 17 Nov 2014
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss different ideas of beauty.
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Neuroscientist Paul Broks on Free Will and the Brain
Fri 14 Nov 2014
Paul Broks brings neuroscience to the philosophical question of whether we have free will.
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Theologian Giles Fraser on Religious Freedom
Thu 13 Nov 2014
Theologian Giles Fraser believes true freedom comes from accepting constraints in life.
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Lawyer Harry Potter on Individual Freedom and the State
Wed 12 Nov 2014
Barrister Harry Potter on John Stuart Mill's ideas about individual freedom and the state.
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Philosopher Angie Hobbs on Positive and Negative Freedom
Tue 11 Nov 2014
Angie Hobbs on Isaiah Berlin's distinction between positive and negative freedom.
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What Does It Mean to Be Free?
Mon 27 Oct 2014
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of ideas about freedom.
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