20th-century French philosophers
20th-century French philosophy is a strand of contemporary philosophy generally associated with post-World War II French thinkers, although it is directly influenced by previous philosophical movements.
8 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
CulturePhilosophyOntologistsFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindTheorists on Western civilizationWriters about activism and social changeMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of religionMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyAphoristsWriters about religion and scienceAtheist philosophers20th-century atheistsNobel laureates in LiteraturePhilosophers of social scienceChristian humanistsExistentialistsForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesJewish philosophersMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of psychologyUniversity of Paris alumniWriters from ParisFrench atheistsFrench political philosophersMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of sexuality19th-century atheistsChristian radicalsCritics of work and the work ethicLiteracy and society theoristsPhilosophers of language20th-century essayistsBurials at Père Lachaise CemeteryFormer Roman CatholicsFrench philosophers of educationFrench philosophers of scienceFrench women philosophersMarxist theoristsMembers of the Académie FrançaiseModernist writers20th-century French novelistsConversationalistsFrench male non-fiction writersFrench philosophers of cultureFrench philosophers of historyFrench socialistsLegion of Honour refusalsMetaphysics writersPhenomenologistsPhilosophers of deathWomen mysticsWriters about globalizationÉcole Normale Supérieure alumni19th-century French philosophersBisexual novelistsCritical theoristsFrench LGBTQ novelistsFrench Nobel laureatesFrench epistemologistsFrench feministsFrench literary criticsFrench philosophers of artFrench sociologistsFrench women novelistsLGBTQ Roman CatholicsLibertarian socialistsPhilosophers of pessimismScholars of feminist philosophy19th-century mystics20th-century French women writers20th-century deaths from tuberculosis20th-century mysticsAbsurdist writersAcademic staff of the Collège de FranceAction theoristsBisexual memoiristsBlind writersBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryFrench Resistance membersFrench Roman Catholic writersFrench anarchists, French anti-capitalists, French anti-fascistsFrench bisexual women, French bisexual writersFrench communistsFrench humanistsGrand Cross of the Legion of HonourIntellectual historyJerusalem Prize recipientsJewish atheistsLycée Condorcet alumniLycée Henri-IV alumniLycée Louis-le-Grand alumniPeople with hypochondriasisPhilosophers of linguisticsSocialist feministsTuberculosis deaths in England19th-century French LGBTQ people, 20th-century French LGBTQ people19th-century French writers20th-century French dramatists and playwrights20th-century French essayists, 20th-century French short story writers20th-century French male writers20th-century French memoiristsAcademic staff of the University of ParisAnti-Stalinist leftBisexual women writersChristian anarchists, Nonviolence advocatesCommunist women writersContinental philosophersConverts to Christianity from JudaismCorresponding fellows of the British AcademyCritics of MarxismDeaths from pneumonia in France, Prix Goncourt winnersDominican mysticsEnactive cognitionFeminist studies scholarsFeminist theoristsFree love advocatesFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFrench biographers, French ethicistsFrench essayistsFrench magazine foundersFrench male essayistsFrench scientists with disabilitiesFrench short story writersFrench women memoiristsJewish historiansLinguists from FrancePhilosophers of nihilismPlatonistsScholars of antisemitismThe New School facultyWriters about communism
Bergson and Time
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas of Henri Bergson on how our experience of time as a duration differs from the scientific measurement of time, and why that matters.
9 May 2019
Featuring: Keith Ansell-Pearson, Emily Thomas, Mark Sinclair
PhilosophyWriters from ParisFrench Nobel laureatesAcademic staff of the Collège de FrancePhilosophers of languageLycée Condorcet alumniMetaphysicians19th-century French writers19th-century French philosophersPhilosophers of mindÉcole Normale Supérieure alumni20th-century French philosophersPhenomenologistsNobel laureates in LiteratureFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesFrench epistemologistsJewish philosophers19th century20th centuryFranceLanguageMedicineCamus
Melvyn Bragg discusses the Nobel Prize winning Algerian-French writer and existentialist philosopher Albert Camus.
3 January 2008
Featuring: Peter Dunwoodie, David Walker, Christina Howells
Culture20th-century French dramatists and playwrightsFrench socialistsPhilosophers of pessimismFrench male essayistsLegion of Honour refusals20th-century atheistsFrench anarchists, French anti-capitalists, French anti-fascists20th-century French philosophersAnti-Stalinist leftModernist writers20th-century French male writers20th-century French novelistsAbsurdist writersFrench humanistsNobel laureates in LiteratureFrench Nobel laureatesAtheist philosophersLibertarian socialistsPhilosophers of death20th-century French essayists, 20th-century French short story writersExistentialistsFrench atheists20th centuryFranceLévi-Strauss
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the work of French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss.
23 May 2013
Featuring: Adam Kuper, Christina Howells, Vincent Debaene
CultureAcademic staff of the Collège de FranceFrench sociologistsLycée Condorcet alumniFrench philosophers of educationThe New School facultyJewish atheistsPhilosophers of mindWriters about globalizationWriters about religion and scienceFrench essayistsMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of religionLiteracy and society theoristsUniversity of Paris alumniCorresponding fellows of the British AcademyPhilosophers of languageFrench male non-fiction writersMetaphysics writersGrand Cross of the Legion of HonourPhilosophers of linguisticsFrench philosophers of scienceMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesWriters about activism and social change20th-century atheists20th-century French philosophersIntellectual historyMembers of the Académie FrançaiseJewish historiansCritical theoristsMetaphysicians20th-century French male writersFrench philosophers of historyWriters about communismTheorists on Western civilizationJewish philosophersWriters from ParisFrench epistemologistsAtheist philosophersPhilosophers of social scienceForeign associates of the National Academy of Sciences20th-century French memoiristsMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyPhenomenologistsLinguists from France20th-century essayistsFrench atheistsOntologistsFrench philosophers of culture20th centuryFranceLanguageMedicineMaurice Merleau-Ponty
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the insights of this French philosopher into the relationship between mind and body, the role of language in thought and the value of habits
27 March 2025
Featuring: Komarine Romdenh-Romluc, Thomas Baldwin, Timothy Mooney
PhilosophyAcademic staff of the Collège de FranceFrench magazine foundersFrench philosophers of educationFrench socialistsUniversity of Paris alumniFrench male non-fiction writersFrench philosophers of scienceFormer Roman CatholicsMarxist theoristsÉcole Normale Supérieure alumni20th-century French philosophersFrench political philosophersPhilosophers of psychologyAcademic staff of the University of ParisBurials at Père Lachaise CemeteryFrench philosophers of artFrench humanistsLycée Louis-le-Grand alumniEnactive cognitionOntologistsAction theoristsPhenomenologistsExistentialistsFrench epistemologistsFrench philosophers of culture20th centuryFrancePsychologyProust
Melvyn Bragg discusses the life and achievements of the 19th century French novelist Marcel Proust whose 3000 page work À La Recherche du Temps Perdu has been called the definitive modern novel.
17 April 2003
Featuring: Jacqueline Rose, Malcolm Bowie, Robert Fraser
Lycée Condorcet alumniDeaths from pneumonia in France, Prix Goncourt winnersFrench literary criticsConversationalistsFrench essayistsFrench male non-fiction writersFormer Roman Catholics20th-century mystics20th-century atheistsFrench short story writers20th-century French philosophers19th-century atheistsPeople with hypochondriasisModernist writersBurials at Père Lachaise Cemetery19th-century French philosophersFrench philosophers of art20th-century French novelistsFrench Roman Catholic writersFrench LGBTQ novelistsWriters from Paris19th-century French LGBTQ people, 20th-century French LGBTQ people20th-century French essayists, 20th-century French short story writersLGBTQ Roman CatholicsAphorists19th-century mysticsFrench atheistsPhilosophers of literature19th century20th centuryFranceSartre
Melvyn Bragg discusses the life and works of French novelist, playwright and philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre.
7 October 2004
Featuring: Jonathan Rée, Benedict O'Donohoe, Christina Howells
PhilosophyScholars of antisemitismFrench sociologists20th-century French dramatists and playwrightsFrench magazine foundersFrench philosophers of educationFrench literary criticsFrench socialistsFrench biographers, French ethicistsPhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of sexualityLegion of Honour refusalsFrench philosophers of scienceLycée Henri-IV alumni20th-century atheistsÉcole Normale Supérieure alumniFrench anarchists, French anti-capitalists, French anti-fascists20th-century French philosophersPhilosophy writersFrench political philosophersCritical theoristsMetaphysiciansBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryFrench communistsBlind writersFree love advocatesFrench philosophers of art20th-century French novelistsFrench philosophers of historyFrench Resistance membersContinental philosophersNobel laureates in LiteratureFrench humanistsFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesFrench Nobel laureatesFrench scientists with disabilitiesTheorists on Western civilizationFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsLycée Louis-le-Grand alumniWriters from ParisPhilosophers of nihilismFrench epistemologistsAtheist philosophersPhilosophers of social scienceLibertarian socialistsPhilosophers of deathOntologistsPhenomenologistsAphoristsExistentialistsPhilosophers of literatureFrench philosophers of cultureFrench atheists20th centuryFranceMedicineSimone Weil
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the French philosopher and social activist Simone Weil. Admired by Albert Camus and Iris Murdoch, she achieved a great deal in her short life.
15 November 2012
Featuring: Beatrice Han-Pile, Stephen Plant, David Levy
PhilosophyChristian humanistsTuberculosis deaths in EnglandFrench socialistsConverts to Christianity from JudaismPhilosophers of religionCritics of work and the work ethicFrench feministsFrench philosophers of scienceDominican mysticsPlatonistsLycée Henri-IV alumniMarxist theoristsÉcole Normale Supérieure alumni20th-century deaths from tuberculosisFrench anarchists, French anti-capitalists, French anti-fascists20th-century French philosophers20th-century French women writersChristian radicalsFrench political philosophersAnti-Stalinist leftFrench communistsFrench Resistance membersJewish philosophersWriters from ParisChristian anarchists, Nonviolence advocatesFrench women philosophersWomen mysticsCritics of Marxism20th centuryFranceSimone de Beauvoir
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Simone de Beauvoir - her work on existentialist ethics, philosophy and literature and her influence on feminism.
22 October 2015
Featuring: Christina Howells, Margaret Atack, Ursula Tidd
PhilosophyDeaths from pneumonia in France, Prix Goncourt winnersFrench philosophers of educationFrench literary criticsFrench women memoiristsPhilosophers of sexualityFeminist studies scholarsBisexual novelistsCommunist women writersSocialist feministsUniversity of Paris alumniBisexual memoiristsFrench feministsScholars of feminist philosophyFormer Roman Catholics20th-century French philosophers20th-century French women writersFrench political philosophersBisexual women writersJerusalem Prize recipientsFrench bisexual women, French bisexual writersBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryFrench communistsFrench philosophers of art20th-century French novelistsFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFeminist theoristsFrench LGBTQ novelistsWriters from ParisAtheist philosophersFrench women novelists20th-century French memoiristsFrench women philosophersExistentialistsFrench atheists20th centuryFrance