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A History of Ideas Episodes

  1.

    Archaeologist Matt Pope on tools and human evolution

    Archaeologist Matt pope looks at the role of technology in early human evolution.

  2. Surgeon Gabriel Weston on medical technology

    Surgeon Gabriel Weston sees how medical technology has changed us.

  3. Historian Justin Champion on Francis Bacon

    Historian Justin Champion on 17th-century polymath Francis Bacon.

  4. Writer Tom Chatfield: Has technology rewired our brains?

    Tom Chatfield on whether modern technology enhances or diminishes us.

  5. How Has Technology Changed Us?

    Melvyn Bragg is joined by Tom Chatfield, Gabriel Weston, Justin Champion and Matt Pope.

  6. Historian Justin Champion on William Whiston's Comet Theory

    Historian Justin Champion on William Whiston, the spiritual father of the Philae lander.

  7. Theologian Giles Fraser on Thomas Aquinas

    Theologian Giles Fraser on brilliant medieval scholar St Thomas Aquinas.

  8. Astronomer Carole Mundell on the Big Bang

    What put the bang in the Big Bang? Can scientists tell us what happened before creation?

  9. Jessica Frazier on Creation Myths

    How did the world begin? Jessica Frazier canvases the views of the great religions.

  10. How Did Everything Begin?

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the origins of everything.

  12. Philosopher Angie Hobbs on Beauty and Morality

    Philosopher Angie Hobbs examines whether beautiful things are also moral.

  13. Historian Simon Schaffer on Beauty and Evolution

    Historian Simon Schaffer on whether evolutionary science explains the existence of beauty.

  14. Vicky Neale on the Mathematics of Beauty

    Mathematician Vicky Neale on the mathematics of beauty and the beauty of mathematics.

  15. Barry Smith on the Philosophy of Good Taste

    Philosopher Barry Smith on David Hume's ideas about cultivating good taste.

  16. Why Are Things Beautiful?

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss different ideas of beauty.

  17. Neuroscientist Paul Broks on Free Will and the Brain

    Paul Broks brings neuroscience to the philosophical question of whether we have free will.

  18. Theologian Giles Fraser on Religious Freedom

    Theologian Giles Fraser believes true freedom comes from accepting constraints in life.

  19. Lawyer Harry Potter on Individual Freedom and the State

    Barrister Harry Potter on John Stuart Mill's ideas about individual freedom and the state.

  20. Philosopher Angie Hobbs on Positive and Negative Freedom

    Angie Hobbs on Isaiah Berlin's distinction between positive and negative freedom.

  21. What Does It Mean to Be Free?

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of ideas about freedom.

  22. Giles Fraser on Wittgenstein and Blade Runner

    Theologian Giles Fraser on Wittgenstein and Blade Runner

  23. Barry Smith on Noam Chomsky and Human Language

    Philosopher Barry Smith on Noam Chomsky and human language

  24. Catharine Edwards on Seneca and facing death.

    Only humans know they will die. Catharine Edwards on the Stoic philosopher Seneca

  25. Simon Schaffer on humans, apes and Carl Linnaeus

    Simon Schaffer on botanist Carl Linnaeus who first classified humans among the apes

  26. What Makes Us Human?

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss what makes us human.

  27. Philosopher Angie Hobbs on the Value of Conscience

    Philosopher Angie Hobbs on the value of conscience and moral intuition.

  28. Lawyer Harry Potter on Morality and the Law

    Lawyer Harry Potter examines whether the law should enforce good morals.

  29. Neuro-psychologist Paul Broks on Morality and the Brain

    Neuropsychologist Paul Broks on moral decisions and the brain.

  30. Theologian Giles Fraser on Moral character

    Giles Fraser on moral character and Aristotle's Virtue ethics

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