A fresh take on the History of Ideas as big subjects like beauty, freedom, technology and morality get dissected by a team of thinkers. Philosophers, theologians, lawyers, Neuroscientists, historians and mathematicians join Melvyn Bragg to present a history in many voices.
Fri, 30 Jan 15
Duration:
13 mins
Medium Archaeologist Matt Pope looks at tool use in human evolution. He argues that technology hasn't just changed us, it helped to create us.
Thu, 29 Jan 15
Duration:
13 mins
How has medical technology changed us? Surgeon Gabriel Weston looks at the past, present, and the weird and wonderful future of medicine to find the answer.
Wed, 28 Jan 15
Duration:
13 mins
Justin Champion suggests 17th century polymath, Francis Bacon, is the architect of the modern world. But he also understood the fallibility of technology and its creators.
Tue, 27 Jan 15
Duration:
13 mins
Has technology changed us? Writer, Tom Chatfield can't help feeling a little anxious about the hold that new technology has on his life.
Mon, 26 Jan 15
Duration:
13 mins
How has technology Changed us? Melvyn Bragg is joined by technologist Tom Chatfield, surgeon Gabriel Weston, Historian Justin Champion and archaeologist Matt Pope.
Fri, 23 Jan 15
Duration:
13 mins
What makes us human: Theologian Giles Fraser finds his answer in Wittgenstein and Bladerunner.
Thu, 22 Jan 15
Duration:
13 mins
Philosopher Barry Smith argues that language is out most important uniquely human attribute and examines Noam Chomsky's idea of a universal grammar.
Wed, 21 Jan 15
Duration:
13 mins
A History of Ideas: What makes me human? Only humans know they are going to die. Dealing with this makes us truly human. Catharine Edwards on the Stoic philospher Seneca.
Tue, 20 Jan 15
Duration:
14 mins
Simon Schaffer on Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus who first classified humans among the apes and founded the system by which we classify all the animals on earth.
Mon, 19 Jan 15
Duration:
13 mins
Philosopher Barry Smith, Classicist Catherine Edwards, historian Simon Schaffer and theologian Giles Fraser discuss what makes us human. Melvyn Bragg Presents
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