A History of Ideas

Paul Broks looks at the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and the problem of 'other minds'.

07 Aug 2015,·11 mins

Clare Carlisle grapples with Bishop Berkley's idea that objects only exist in our minds.

06 Aug 2015,·11 mins

How can we separate real science from mumbo jumbo? Physicist Tara Shears investigates.

05 Aug 2015,·11 mins

Barrister Harry Potter on whether we can believe our eyes.

04 Aug 2015,·11 mins

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how we can know anything at all.

03 Aug 2015,·11 mins

How should we love our children? Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau had some great ideas.

31 Jul 2015,·11 mins

What is love? Psychotherapist Mark Vernon looks at Freud's ideas on the Greek god Eros.

30 Jul 2015,·11 mins

Giles Fraser discusses gene theory versus altruism with Tom Stoppard and Armand Leroi.

29 Jul 2015,·11 mins

Classicist Edith Hall on Aristophanes's explanation of love.

28 Jul 2015,·11 mins

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of ideas around love.

27 Jul 2015,·11 mins

Timothy Secret on Confucius. To live well together we must first consider the dead.

24 Jul 2015,·11 mins

Angie Hobbs asks if the ideal state would be run by philosophers not politicians.

23 Jul 2015,·11 mins

Is a free market the best foundation for a fair, dynamic society?

22 Jul 2015,·11 mins

Professor Justin Champion examines Locke's Letter on Toleration.

21 Jul 2015,·11 mins

Melvyn Bragg and guests debate how we should live together.

20 Jul 2015,·11 mins

Philosopher Barry Smith explores ideas about consciousness.

17 Apr 2015,·11 mins

Jules Evans explores Jung and the shadow inside all of us.

16 Apr 2015,·11 mins

Writer AL Kennedy explores existentialist ideas about the individual.

15 Apr 2015,·11 mins

Paul Broks asks how we can be sure we are the same person that we were yesterday.

14 Apr 2015,·11 mins

Barry Smith, Paul Broks, AL Kennedy and Jules Evans discuss the self.

13 Apr 2015,·11 mins

Historian Alice Taylor on the slippery justice of extrajudicial detention.

10 Apr 2015,·11 mins

Criminologist David Wilson looks at Thomas Hobbes and his 'social contract' theory.

09 Apr 2015,·11 mins

Angie Hobbs, Leif Wenar and David Runciman debate and explore the ideas of John Rawls.

08 Apr 2015,·11 mins

In this edition of a series of programmes on justice, Harry Potter examines deterrence.

07 Apr 2015,·11 mins

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss ideas about justice.

06 Apr 2015,·11 mins

Neuropsychologist Paul Broks looks at the idea of leading a good life by being selfish.

03 Apr 2015,·11 mins

Naomi Appleton explores the Buddha's Four Noble Truths.

02 Apr 2015,·11 mins

Justin Champion looks at the roots of our culture's belief in the moral power of hard work

01 Apr 2015,·11 mins

Philosopher Jules Evans asks Gus O'Donnell how to measure the good life.

31 Mar 2015,·11 mins

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how to live a good life.

30 Mar 2015,·11 mins