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 In Our Time Archive: Philosophy
  



Category: Talk - History
Last Update: Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:26:26 -0700
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the history of philosophy - from ancient Greek thinkers to the major questions that preoccupy philosophers today.


Previews of In Our Time Archive: Philosophy
(All Active Shows)

    IOTP: Malthusianism
Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:34:00 +0100 (20.2 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg discusses the ideas of Thomas Malthus, the Victorian clergyman whose work, 'An Essay on the Principle of Population', forecast that soon the population would outstrip food supply. His philosophy regarding population became known as 'Malthusianism'. But was there any truth in his predictions and what impact did his essay have at the time? Melvyn is joined by Karen O’Brien, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education at the University of Birmingham; Mark Philp, Lecturer in Politics at the University of Oxford; and Emma Griffin, Senior Lecturer in History at the University of East Anglia.

    IOTP: Cogito Ergo Sum
Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:00:00 +0100 (20.4 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss one of the most famous statements in philosophy: "Cogito ergo sum" or "I think therefore I am". With Susan James, John Cottingham and Stephen Mulhall.

    IOTP: Free Will
Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:23:00 +0000 (20.4 Mb)
Do we have the freedom to control our actions? Melvyn Bragg discusses free will with Simon Blackburn, Helen Beebee and Galen Strawson.

    IOTP: Aristotle's Poetics
Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:46:00 +0000 (20.2 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the seminal work of literary criticism by Aristotle, his 'Poetics'. Full of advice about how to write and appreciate tragedy and epic poetry, the book had a huge influence on French renaissance drama and beyond. Melvyn is joined by Angie Hobbs, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Senior Fellow in the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Warwick; Nick Lowe is Reader in Classical Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London; and Stephen Halliwell, Professor of Greek at the University of St. Andrews.

    IOTP: Daoism
Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:57:00 +0000 (20.4 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ancient religion and philosophy, Daoism. Said to date from the 6th century BC when a wise man called Laozi wrote the 'Scripture of the Way and its Power', the 'Daodejing'; Daoism plays a significant role in Chinese culture in general and is now one of the most influential religions worldwide. Melvyn is joined by Tim Barrett, Professor of East Asian History at SOAS; Martin Palmer, Director of the International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture; and Hilde De Weerdt,Fellow and Tutor in Chinese History at Pembroke College, University of Oxford.

    IOTP: Edmund Burke
Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:00:00 +0100 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the philosopher, politician and writer Edmund Burke. With guests Karen O’Brien, Richard Bourke and John Keane.

    IOTP: William Hazlitt
Thu, 08 Apr 2010 09:00:00 +0100 (20.2 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life and works of the essayist William Hazlitt. With Jonathan Bate, Anthony Grayling and Uttara Natarajan.

    IOTP: Ibn Khaldun
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 14th-century Arab philosopher of history Ibn Khaldun. With Hugh Kennedy, Robert Irwin and Robert Hoyland.

    IOTP: The Frankfurt School
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0000 (20.2 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas and influence of the Frankfurt School. Guests include Jonathon Rée, Esther Leslie and Raymond Geuss.

    IOTP: Mary Wollstonecraft
Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +0000 (20.2 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life and ideas of Mary Wollstonecraft. With John Mullan, Barbara Taylor and Karen O’Brien.

    IOTP: Schopenhauer
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000 (20.4 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the pessimistic philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer. Guests include A.C. Grayling, Béatrice Han-Pile and Chris Janaway.

    IOTP: The School of Athens
Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:00:00 +0000 (20.4 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Raphael's depiction of Plato and Aristotle. With Angie Hobbs, Jill Kraye and Valery Rees.

    IOTP: Thoreau and the American Idyll
Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:00:00 +0000 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the philosopher and naturalist Henry David Thoreau. With Kathy Burk, Stephen Fender and Tim Morris.

    IOTP: The Consolation of Philosophy
Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:00:00 +0000 (20.4 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the consolation of Philosophy. Guests include AC Grayling, Roger Scruton and Melissa Lane.

    IOTP: Aristotle’s Politics
Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:00:00 +0000 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Aristotle’s ‘Politics’. With Annabel Brett, Angie Hobbs and Paul Cartledge.

    IOTP: The Translation Movement
Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:00:00 +0100 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss classical Greek ideas in the Arabic and the Islamic world. Guests include Peter Adamson, Amira Bennison and Peter Pormann.

    IOTP: Materialism
Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:00:00 +0100 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Materialism in Philosophy. With AC Grayling, Anthony O’Hear and Caroline Warman.

    IOTP: Kierkegaard
Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:00:00 +0000 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg examines the rich and radical ideas of the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. With guests Jonathan Ree, Clare Carlisle and John Lippitt.

    IOTP: The Social Contract
Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:00:00 +0000 (20.1 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Social Contract; a key idea in political philosophy. Guests include Susan James, Karen O’Brien and Melissa Lane.

    IOTP: Avicenna
Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:00:00 +0000 (20.1 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg discusses the Persian Islamic philosopher Avicenna. With Peter Adamson, Nader El-Bizri and Amira Bennison.

    IOTP: Guilt
Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:00:00 +0000 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests take a long hard look at the idea of guilt. Guests include Miranda Fricker, Stephen Mulhall and Oliver Davies.

    IOTP: Socrates
Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:00:00 +0100 (20.2 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the iconic Greek philosopher, Socrates. With Angie Hobbs, David Sedley and Paul Millett.

    IOTP: Common Sense Philosophy
Thu, 21 Jun 2007 09:00:00 +0100 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss common sense philosophy. Guests include Alexander Broadie, A.C Grayling and Melissa Lane.

    IOTP: Spinoza
Thu, 03 May 2007 09:00:00 +0100 (13.6 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg discusses the Dutch, Jewish and Christian Philosopher, Baruch Spinoza. With Jonathan Ree, John Cottingham and Sarah Hutton.

    IOTP: Popper
Thu, 08 Feb 2007 09:00:00 +0000 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg discusses the Anglo-Austrian philosopher Karl Popper. With guests John Worrall, Anthony O’Hear and Nancy Cartwright.

    IOTP: Anarchism
Thu, 07 Dec 2006 09:00:00 +0000 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the political creed of Anarchism. With Peter Marshall, John Keane and Ruth Kinna.

    IOTP: Altruism
Thu, 23 Nov 2006 09:00:00 +0000 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss philosophical and evolutionary arguments over altruism. Guests include Richard Dawkins, Miranda Fricker and John Dupre.

    IOTP: Averroes
Thu, 05 Oct 2006 09:00:00 +0100 (20.4 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 12th century Islamic philosopher, Averroes. Guests include Peter Adamson, Anthony Kenny and Amira Bennison.

    IOTP: Mill
Thu, 18 May 2006 09:00:00 +0100 (20.3 Mb)
The life and ideas of the 19th century political philosopher John Stuart Mill. With guests A C Grayling, Alan Ryan and Janet Radcliffe Richards.

    IOTP: Friendship
Thu, 02 Mar 2006 09:00:00 +0000 (20.1 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg explores the concept of friendship; ‘a single soul dwelling in two bodies’. With guests Angie Hobbs, Mark Vernon and John Mullan.

    IOTP: The Oath
Thu, 05 Jan 2006 09:00:00 +0000 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests explore the importance of the oath in the Classical World. Guests include Alan Sommerstein, Paul Cartledge and Mary Beard.

    IOTP: Hobbes
Thu, 01 Dec 2005 09:00:00 +0000 (13.6 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the great 17th century philosopher Thomas Hobbes. Guests include Quentin Skinner, David Wootton and Annabel Brett.

    IOTP: Pragmatism
Thu, 17 Nov 2005 09:00:00 +0000 (20.2 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests examine the American philosophy of pragmatism. Guests include AC Grayling, Julian Baggini and Miranda Fricker.

    IOTP: Cynicism
Thu, 20 Oct 2005 09:00:00 +0100 (13.6 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Cynics, the performance artists of philosophy. Guests include Angie Hobbs, Miriam Griffin and John Moles.

    IOTP: Marx
Thu, 14 Jul 2005 09:00:00 +0100 (20.2 Mb)
The life and ideas of Karl Marx who changed the world with his Communist Manifesto. With Gareth Stedman-Jones, Francis Wheen and AC Grayling.

    IOTP: Beauty
Thu, 19 May 2005 09:00:00 +0100 (13.7 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the qualities of beauty and the history of aesthetics. Guests include Angie Hobbes, Sue James and Julian Baggini.

    IOTP: Stoicism
Fri, 04 Mar 2005 09:00:00 +0000 (13.6 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg explores Stoicism, the most influential philosophy in the Ancient World. With Jonathan Ree, Angie Hobbs and David Sedley.

    IOTP: Jung
Thu, 02 Dec 2004 09:00:00 +0000 (13.7 Mb)
The extraordinary mind and theories of the psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung. With Brett Kahr, Andrew Samuels and Ronald Hayman.

    IOTP: Rhetoric
Thu, 14 Oct 2004 10:00:00 +0100 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discusses rhetoric; supported by Aristotle but reviled by Plato. Guests include Angie Hobbs, Ceri Sullivan and Tom Healy.

    IOTP: The Han Synthesis
Thu, 14 Oct 2004 09:00:00 +0100 (13.5 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Han Synthesis philosophies of China. Guests include Chris Cullen, Carol Michaelson and Roel Sterckx.

    IOTP: Empiricism
Thu, 10 Jun 2004 09:00:00 +0100 (13.7 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg examines the 17th century idea that all knowledge arises from experience. With guests Murray Pittock, Jonathan Ree and Judith Hawley.

    IOTP: Heroism
Thu, 06 May 2004 09:00:00 +0100 (20.4 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg explores what defines a hero, and their place in classical society. With Paul Cartledge, AC Grayling and Angie Hobbs.

    IOTP: Wittgenstein
Thu, 04 Dec 2003 09:00:00 +0000 (20.4 Mb)
The life, work and legacy of the 20th century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. With Ray Monk, Marie McGinn and Barry Smith.

    IOTP: Duty
Thu, 13 Nov 2003 09:00:00 +0000 (13.7 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg examines duty, a concept that has excited philosophers through history. With guests AC Grayling, Angie Hobbs and Annabel Brett.

    IOTP: The Art of War
Thu, 12 Jun 2003 09:00:00 +0100 (20.3 Mb)
The history and philosophy of warfare throughout the ages. With guests Michael Howard, Angie Hobbs and Jeremy Black.

    IOTP: Freedom
Thu, 04 Jul 2002 09:00:00 +0100 (13.6 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg considers what it is to be free and how freedom became such a powerful value. With John Keane, Annabel Brett and Bernhard Williams.

    IOTP: The Examined Life
Thu, 09 May 2002 09:00:00 +0100 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg investigates how our preoccupations about how to live have altered over time. Including guests AC Grayling, Janet Radcliffe Richards and Julian Baggini.

    IOTP: Virtue
Thu, 28 Feb 2002 09:00:00 +0000 (20.3 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg explores the meaning and purpose of the philosophical concept of virtue. With guests Galen Strawson, Miranda Fricker and Roger Crisp.

    IOTP: Happiness
Thu, 24 Jan 2002 09:00:00 +0000 (13.5 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg considers whether 'happiness' means living a life of pleasure or of virtue. With Simon Blackburn, Angie Hobbs and AC Grayling.

    IOTP: Confucius
Thu, 01 Nov 2001 09:00:00 +0000 (13.6 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests examine the chinese philosophy of Confucianism. Guests include Tao Tao Liu, Frances Wood and Tim Barrett.

    IOTP: Evil
Thu, 03 May 2001 09:00:00 +0100 (13.7 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the notion of evil in western philosophy. With Jones Erwin, Stephen Mulhall and Margaret Atkins.

    IOTP: The Philosophy of Love
Thu, 29 Mar 2001 09:00:00 +0100 (13.6 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg examines the western understanding of the Philosophy of Love since Plato. With Roger Scruton, Angie Hobbes and Thomas Docherty .

    IOTP: Humanism
Thu, 08 Feb 2001 09:00:00 +0000 (13.7 Mb)
The history and legacy of classical Humanism, invented by Cicero. With Simon Goldhill, Tony Davies and Lisa Jardine.

    IOTP: Nihilism
Thu, 16 Nov 2000 09:00:00 +0000 (13.6 Mb)
The history of the philosophy that claims that truths are illusory. Including guests Rob Hopkins, Raymond Tallis and Catherine Belsey.

    IOTP: Economic Rights
Thu, 27 Jan 2000 09:00:00 +0000 (13.4 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the relationship between democracy and capitalism. With Amartya Sen and Will Hutton.

    IOTP: Consciousness
Thu, 25 Nov 1999 09:00:00 +0000 (13.5 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg examines why ideas about consciousness preoccupy philosophers and scientists. With Ted Hondrich and Roger Penrose.

    IOTP: Progress
Thu, 18 Nov 1999 09:00:00 +0000 (13.8 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg examines whether mankind has made as much moral as material progress. With Adam Phillips and Anthony O’Hear.

    IOTP: The Individual
Thu, 21 Oct 1999 09:00:00 +0100 (13.6 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg explores the concept of the individual from the Renaissance to today. With Richard Wollheim and Jonathan Dollimore.

    IOTP: Utopia
Thu, 07 Oct 1999 09:00:00 +0100 (13.5 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss why we are as enthralled as ever by the idea of a Utopia. With John Carey and A.C. Grayling.

    IOTP: Just War
Thu, 03 Jun 1999 09:00:00 +0100 (13.6 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg looks at where the idea of a just war originated and asks if it can still exist. With John Keane and Niall Ferguson.

    IOTP: Good and Evil
Thu, 01 Apr 1999 09:00:00 +0100 (13.6 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how we judge good and evil in modern western civilisation. With Leszek Kolakowski and Galen Strawson.

    IOTP: Cultural Rights in the 20th Century
Thu, 10 Dec 1998 09:00:00 +0000 (13.6 Mb)
Melvyn Bragg examines what impact globalisation has had on human rights, with Homi Bhabha and John Grey.


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