Aphorists
An aphorism (from Greek ἀφορισμός: aphorismos, denoting 'delimitation', 'distinction', and 'definition') is a concise, terse, laconic, or memorable expression of a general truth or principle. They are often handed down by tradition from generation to generation.
12 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
CultureHistoryPhilosophyFellows of the Royal SocietyOntologistsSocial philosophersPhilosophy writersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of historyWriters about activism and social changeMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of scienceMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyEpistemologistsSonneteersCritics of the Catholic ChurchRecipients of the Copley MedalWriters about religion and scienceAge of EnlightenmentAtheist philosophersGerman male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of educationPhilosophers of lawPhilosophers of social science19th-century German male writers19th-century German philosophers20th-century atheistsChristian humanistsMetaphilosophersNobel laureates in LiteraturePhilosophers of mathematicsWriters from ParisExistentialistsFrench atheistsGerman male essayistsGerman philosophers of historyGerman political philosophersHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesLogiciansPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of lovePhilosophers of psychologyPhilosophers of sexuality19th-century atheists20th-century French philosophersAmerican male non-fiction writersCatholic philosophersChristian radicalsCritics of work and the work ethicFrench political philosophersGerman philosophers of artGerman philosophers of cultureLiteracy and society theoristsPhilosophers of artVictorian novelists19th-century German essayists19th-century pseudonymous writers20th-century essayistsAmerican people of English descentAnti-consumeristsChristian ethicistsCritics of religionsFounders of religionsGerman philosophers of education, German ethicistsLiterary theoristsModernist writersPeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendarPeople whose existence is disputedPhilosophers of technologySimple living advocatesTheoretical historiansVictorian poets19th-century male writers20th-century French novelistsAlumni of Trinity College DublinAnti-nationalistsChristian poetsConversationalistsFormer Roman CatholicsFrench philosophers of educationFrench philosophers of historyFrench philosophers of scienceGerman philosophers of languageGerman philosophers of scienceIrish male dramatists and playwrights, Irish expatriates in FranceIrish male poetsIrony theoristsJewish socialistsLegion of Honour refusalsLeipzig University alumniMetaphysics writersPeople associated with electricityPhilosophers of deathPhilosophers of warPolitical realistsRhetoric theoristsTrope theoristsUniversity of Göttingen alumniWriters of Gothic fiction19th-century French philosophers19th-century German male musicians19th-century German non-fiction writers19th-century German writersAmerican political philosophersAnglo-Irish artists, Irish fantasy writersBurials at Père Lachaise CemeteryClassical humanistsCritical theoristsCritics of JudaismCritics of atheismFabulistsFrench LGBTQ novelistsFrench Nobel laureatesFrench literary criticsFrench male non-fiction writersFrench philosophers of culture, French sociologistsFrench socialistsGerman critics of ChristianityGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionIndependent scientistsLGBTQ Roman CatholicsLibertarian socialistsMetaphor theoristsPhenomenologistsPhilosophers of pessimismÉcole Normale Supérieure alumni18th-century American writers, Founding Fathers of the United States, People of the American Enlightenment18th-century pseudonymous writers19th-century German novelists19th-century Irish dramatists and playwrights, Symbolist dramatists and playwrights, 19th-century Irish poets19th-century deaths from tuberculosis19th-century essayists19th-century mystics20th-century deaths from tuberculosis20th-century mystics20th-century translators5th-century BC historiansAbsurdist writersAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of BerlinActivists for African-American civil rightsAlumni of Magdalen College, OxfordAmerican autobiographersAmerican deistsAmerican male journalistsAmerican philosophers of cultureAmerican philosophers of educationAmerican philosophers of religionAmerican slave ownersAnthologistsBisexual male writersBisexual novelistsBlind writersBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryDeterministsFrench Resistance membersFrench Roman Catholic writersFrench anarchists, French anti-fascists, French anti-capitalistsFrench communistsFrench epistemologistsFrench philosophers of artFrench physicistsGerman epistemologistsGerman idealistsHumor researchersIrish male novelistsJerusalem Prize recipientsJewish atheistsLecturersLycée Condorcet alumniLycée Henri-IV alumniMilitary theoristsPeople associated with the University of BaselPeople from the Province of SaxonyPeople with hypochondriasisPhilosophers of timeRoman Catholic mysticsScholars of Trinity College DublinStateless peopleSurrealist writersWriters from Dublin (city)17th-century Christian mystics18th-century American politicians, Signers of the United States Constitution, American Freemasons19th-century German journalists19th-century Prussian people20th-century French LGBTQ people, 19th-century French LGBTQ people20th-century French essayists, 20th-century French short story writers6th-century BC Chinese writers, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Chinese political philosophers, 5th-century BC Chinese writers, Zhou dynasty writers6th-century BC religious leaders, 5th-century BC religious leadersAnti-natalistsAustrian atheistsBisexual journalistsBisexual poetsBlind poetsCartesianismChristian apologistsCommanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyContinental philosophersConverts to Roman CatholicismConverts to Roman Catholicism from AnglicanismCreators of writing systemsDeaths from pneumonia in GermanyExistentialist theologiansFin de siècleFree love advocatesFreemasons of the United Grand Lodge of EnglandFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFrench essayistsFrench ethicists, French biographersFrench humanists, 20th-century French dramatists and playwrightsFrench mathematicians, French fluid dynamicists, French probability theoristsFrench scientists with disabilitiesFrench short story writersGerman eugenicistsGerman logicians, Kantian philosophersGerman monarchistsGerman music criticsGerman philologistsGerman writers on atheismHaiku poetsIndependent scholarsInfectious disease deaths in FranceIrish Freemasons, Irish people of English descent, Irish libertariansJewish existentialistsJourney to the West charactersLGBTQ AnglicansMagic realism writersMasonic grand mastersPeople convicted for homosexuality in the United Kingdom, People who have received posthumous pardonsPeople educated at Portora Royal School, Irish writers in FrenchPhilosophers from MassachusettsPhilosophers of identityPhilosophers of nihilismPolitical activists from PennsylvaniaPrix Goncourt winners, Deaths from pneumonia in FranceScholars of antisemitismSpanish-language poetsUniversity of Bonn alumniUniversity of Copenhagen alumniWriters from Philadelphia, Recreational cryptographers, Writers from Boston
Benjamin Franklin
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of the scientist, writer, printer, diplomat and American founding father Benjamin Franklin.
1 March 2012
Featuring: Simon Middleton, Simon Newman, Patricia Fara
CultureFellows of the Royal SocietySocial philosophersPhilosophy writersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of literatureTheorists on Western civilizationWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of scienceMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyWriters about religion and scienceRecipients of the Copley MedalAphoristsAge of EnlightenmentHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesAmerican male non-fiction writersAmerican people of English descentSimple living advocatesPhilosophers of technologyPeople associated with electricityRhetoric theoristsAmerican political philosophersIndependent scientistsAmerican male journalistsHumor researchers18th-century pseudonymous writersActivists for African-American civil rightsAmerican slave ownersAmerican autobiographersAmerican philosophers of educationAmerican deistsAmerican philosophers of cultureAmerican philosophers of religionIndependent scholarsMasonic grand mastersPolitical activists from PennsylvaniaCreators of writing systemsPhilosophers from Massachusetts18th-century American writers, Founding Fathers of the United States, People of the American EnlightenmentWriters from Philadelphia, Recreational cryptographers, Writers from Boston18th-century American politicians, Signers of the United States Constitution, American FreemasonsConfucius
Melvyn Bragg discusses the philosophy of Confucius, a body of ideas which, more than any other philosophy, has defined what it is to be Chinese.
1 November 2001
Featuring: Frances Wood, Tim Barrett, Tao Tao Liu
PhilosophySocial philosophersPhilosophers of cultureAphoristsPhilosophers of lawPhilosophers of educationFounders of religionsClassical humanists5th-century BC historians6th-century BC Chinese writers, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Chinese political philosophers, 5th-century BC Chinese writers, Zhou dynasty writers6th-century BC religious leaders, 5th-century BC religious leadersJorge Luis Borges
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life and work of the Argentinian master of the short story, Jorge Luis Borges.
4 January 2007
Featuring: Edwin Williamson, Efraín Kristal, Evelyn Fishburn
CulturePhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of cultureSonneteersAphoristsPhilosophers of mathematicsLiteracy and society theoristsPhilosophers of artLiterary theorists20th-century essayistsTrope theoristsMetaphysics writersMetaphor theoristsPhilosophers of pessimismSurrealist writersLecturers20th-century translatorsPhilosophers of timeJerusalem Prize recipients20th-century mysticsAnthologistsBlind writersCommanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanySpanish-language poetsHaiku poetsMagic realism writersPhilosophers of identityBlind poetsKafka's The Trial
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Franz Kafka's novel The Trial.
27 November 2014
Featuring: Elizabeth Boa, Steve Connor, Ritchie Robertson
Kierkegaard
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the rich and radical ideas of Soren Kierkegaard, often called the father of Existentialism.
20 March 2008
Featuring: Jonathan Rée, Clare Carlisle, John Lippitt
PhilosophySocial philosophersOntologistsPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of religionMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of cultureEpistemologistsAphoristsMetaphilosophersChristian humanistsPhilosophers of loveExistentialistsPhilosophers of psychologyChristian radicalsPhilosophers of artChristian ethicists19th-century pseudonymous writersPeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendarChristian poets19th-century male writersPhilosophers of deathIrony theorists19th-century essayists19th-century deaths from tuberculosisExistentialist theologiansUniversity of Copenhagen alumniNietzsche's Genealogy of Morality
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Nietzsche's influential ideas about what it means to be moral.
12 January 2017
Featuring: Stephen Mulhall, Fiona Hughes, Keith Ansell-Pearson
PhilosophyOntologistsPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of literatureTheorists on Western civilizationWriters about activism and social changeMetaphysiciansCritics of the Catholic ChurchWriters about religion and scienceAphoristsGerman male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of social science19th-century German male writers19th-century German philosophersMetaphilosophersGerman male essayistsGerman philosophers of historyPhilosophers of sexualityExistentialistsPhilosophers of psychologyGerman philosophers of artGerman philosophers of cultureCritics of work and the work ethicAnti-consumeristsCritics of religionsAnti-nationalistsLeipzig University alumniIrony theorists19th-century German male musicians19th-century German non-fiction writersCritical theoristsGerman critics of ChristianityPeople associated with the University of BaselStateless peopleGerman epistemologistsDeterministsPeople from the Province of Saxony19th-century German novelistsPhilosophers of time19th-century Prussian people19th-century German journalistsGerman music criticsPhilosophers of nihilismUniversity of Bonn alumniDeaths from pneumonia in GermanyGerman philosophers of education, German ethicistsGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionOscar Wilde
Melvyn Bragg discusses Oscar Wilde, the Aesthetes and his literary legacy. Was Wilde a reactionary - the last of the romantics - or was he the midwife to modernism?
6 December 2001
Featuring: Valentine Cunningham, Regenia Gagnier, Neil Sammells
CultureAphoristsVictorian novelistsVictorian poetsWriters of Gothic fictionAlumni of Trinity College DublinConversationalistsIrish male poetsBurials at Père Lachaise CemeteryLGBTQ Roman CatholicsLibertarian socialistsBisexual novelistsAlumni of Magdalen College, OxfordScholars of Trinity College DublinWriters from Dublin (city)Irish male novelistsBisexual male writersBisexual journalistsLGBTQ AnglicansConverts to Roman Catholicism from AnglicanismFreemasons of the United Grand Lodge of EnglandFin de siècleBisexual poetsInfectious disease deaths in FranceIrish male dramatists and playwrights, Irish expatriates in FranceAnglo-Irish artists, Irish fantasy writers19th-century Irish dramatists and playwrights, Symbolist dramatists and playwrights, 19th-century Irish poetsPeople convicted for homosexuality in the United Kingdom, People who have received posthumous pardonsPeople educated at Portora Royal School, Irish writers in FrenchIrish Freemasons, Irish people of English descent, Irish libertariansPascal
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of the French polymath Blaise Pascal.
19 September 2013
Featuring: David Wootton, Michael Moriarty, Michela Massimi
CultureAphoristsChristian humanistsCatholic philosophersCritics of atheismFrench physicistsPeople with hypochondriasisRoman Catholic mysticsFrench Roman Catholic writersConverts to Roman CatholicismChristian apologists17th-century Christian mysticsCartesianismFrench mathematicians, French fluid dynamicists, French probability theoristsProust
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
CulturePhilosophers of literatureAphorists20th-century atheistsWriters from ParisFrench atheists19th-century atheists20th-century French philosophersModernist writers20th-century French novelistsConversationalistsFormer Roman CatholicsFrench male non-fiction writersFrench LGBTQ novelistsBurials at Père Lachaise CemeteryLGBTQ Roman Catholics19th-century French philosophersFrench literary critics19th-century mysticsPeople with hypochondriasisLycée Condorcet alumniFrench philosophers of artFrench Roman Catholic writers20th-century mysticsFrench short story writersFrench essayists20th-century French LGBTQ people, 19th-century French LGBTQ peoplePrix Goncourt winners, Deaths from pneumonia in France20th-century French essayists, 20th-century French short story writersSartre
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
CultureOntologistsPhilosophy writersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of literatureTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of mindMetaphysiciansAphoristsAtheist philosophersPhilosophers of social science20th-century atheistsWriters from ParisNobel laureates in LiteratureFrench atheistsPhilosophers of sexualityExistentialistsFrench political philosophers20th-century French philosophersLegion of Honour refusalsFrench philosophers of educationFrench philosophers of historyFrench philosophers of science20th-century French novelistsPhilosophers of deathFrench socialistsÉcole Normale Supérieure alumniPhenomenologistsFrench Nobel laureatesLibertarian socialistsFrench literary criticsCritical theoristsFrench epistemologistsFrench Resistance membersBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryFrench communistsFrench philosophers of artLycée Henri-IV alumniBlind writersFrench scientists with disabilitiesScholars of antisemitismPhilosophers of nihilismContinental philosophersFree love advocatesFrench philosophers of culture, French sociologistsFrench anarchists, French anti-fascists, French anti-capitalistsFrench ethicists, French biographersFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFrench humanists, 20th-century French dramatists and playwrightsSchopenhauer
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the pessimistic philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer and his extraordinary influence.
29 October 2009
Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Beatrice Han-Pile, Christopher Janaway
PhilosophyOntologistsPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of literatureTheorists on Western civilizationAphoristsAtheist philosophersGerman male non-fiction writers19th-century German male writers19th-century German philosophersMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of loveGerman male essayistsGerman political philosophersGerman philosophers of historyLogiciansPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of psychologyGerman philosophers of art19th-century atheistsGerman philosophers of culture19th-century German essayistsSimple living advocatesCritics of religionsGerman philosophers of languageGerman philosophers of scienceUniversity of Göttingen alumniPhenomenologistsPhilosophers of pessimism19th-century German writersCritical theoristsGerman critics of ChristianityCritics of JudaismAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of BerlinGerman idealistsGerman epistemologistsAnti-natalistsGerman writers on atheismGerman eugenicistsGerman monarchistsGerman philologistsGerman philosophers of education, German ethicistsGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionGerman logicians, Kantian philosophersSun Tzu and The Art of War
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Chinese military adviser Sun Tzu from the 6th century BC and the influential work of military strategy associated with him, The Art of War.
1 March 2018
Featuring: Hilde de Weerdt, Tim Barrett, Imre Galambos
HistoryPhilosophers of cultureAphoristsPhilosophers of educationPhilosophers of social scienceTheoretical historiansPeople whose existence is disputedPhilosophers of warPolitical realistsMilitary theoristsJourney to the West characters6th-century BC Chinese writers, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Chinese political philosophers, 5th-century BC Chinese writers, Zhou dynasty writers