Atheist philosophers
11 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
CulturePhilosophyFellows of the Royal SocietyOntologistsSocial philosophersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of historyWriters about activism and social changeMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of scienceEnlightenment philosophersMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyEpistemologistsAge of EnlightenmentAphoristsCritics of the Catholic ChurchEnglish essayistsEnglish male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of educationWriters about religion and scienceGerman male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of law20th-century atheistsMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesNobel laureates in LiteraturePhilosophers of social science18th-century philosophers19th-century German male writers19th-century German philosophersExistentialistsForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesJewish philosophersMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of economicsPhilosophers of mathematicsPhilosophers of psychologyUniversity of Paris alumniWriters from Paris20th-century French philosophersAristotelian philosophersEnglish people of Scottish descentFrench atheistsFrench political philosophersGerman male essayistsGerman philosophers of historyGerman political philosophersHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesLogiciansMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of lovePhilosophers of sexuality19th-century atheistsCritics of work and the work ethicEmpiricistsGerman philosophers of artGerman philosophers of cultureLiteracy and society theoristsMembers of the French Academy of SciencesPhilosophers of languagePolitical philosophers19th-century German essayists19th-century pseudonymous writers20th-century essayistsAnalytic philosophersAnti-consumeristsCritics of religionsEnglish agnosticsEnglish atheistsFormer Roman CatholicsFrench philosophers of educationFrench philosophers of scienceFrench women philosophersGerman ethicists, German philosophers of educationMarxist theoristsMembers of the Académie FrançaiseModernist writersPhilosophers of technologySimple living advocatesTheoretical historiansVirtue ethicists20th-century French novelistsAnti-nationalistsBritish critics of religionsBritish philosophers of educationEnglish Nobel laureatesEnglish socialistsFrench male non-fiction writersFrench philosophers of cultureFrench philosophers of historyFrench socialistsGerman philosophers of languageGerman philosophers of scienceHumboldt University of Berlin alumniJewish socialistsLegion of Honour refusalsMembers of the Order of MeritMetaphysics writersPhenomenologistsPhilosophers of deathRationalistsRhetoric theoristsUniversity of Göttingen alumniWriters about globalizationÉcole Normale Supérieure alumni19th-century German writers20th-century British philosophers20th-century English philosophers20th-century pseudonymous writersAlumni of Newnham College, CambridgeAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeBisexual novelistsBritish ethicistsBritish philosophers of mindBritish political philosophersCritical theoristsCritics of JudaismEnglish people of Welsh descentEnglish political philosophersEuropean democratic socialistsFellows of the British AcademyFreethought writersFrench LGBTQ novelistsFrench Nobel laureatesFrench epistemologistsFrench feministsFrench literary criticsFrench philosophers of artFrench sociologistsFrench women novelistsGerman Marxist writersGerman critics of ChristianityGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionJames Tait Black Memorial Prize recipientsLibertarian socialistsPhilosophers of pessimismScholars of feminist philosophyUtilitarians18th-century French male writers18th-century French mathematicians18th-century French writers19th-century English essayists19th-century English philosophers19th-century German historians20th-century English mathematicians20th-century French women writersAbsurdist writersAcademic staff of the Collège de FranceAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of BerlinAlumni of Somerville College, OxfordBisexual memoiristsBlind writersBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsBritish free speech activistsBritish historians of philosophyBritish philosophers of languageBritish socialistsBurials at Highgate CemeteryBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryBurials at the Panthéon, ParisConsequentialistsEnglish logiciansEnglish political writersEnglish women philosophersFellows of Somerville College, OxfordFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeFrench Resistance membersFrench anarchists, French anti-capitalists, French anti-fascistsFrench bisexual women, French bisexual writersFrench communistsFrench humanistsGeorgistsGerman epistemologistsGerman idealistsGerman monarchistsGerman revolutionariesGrand Cross of the Legion of HonourIntellectual historyJerusalem Prize recipientsJewish atheistsLeaders who took power by coupLinguistic turnLycée Condorcet alumniLycée Henri-IV alumniLycée Louis-le-Grand alumniPamphleteersPhilosophers of linguisticsPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyRussian atheistsSocialist feministsStateless peopleWittgensteinian philosophers19th-century English mathematicians19th-century philosophers from the Russian Empire, 20th-century Russian philosophers, Emigrants from the Russian Empire to Switzerland, Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United Kingdom, Russian communists, Russian revolutionaries20th-century British non-fiction writers20th-century French dramatists and playwrights20th-century French essayists, 20th-century French short story writers20th-century French male writers20th-century French memoiristsAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceAnti-Stalinist leftAnti-imperialistsAnti-monarchistsAnti-natalistsBisexual women writersBritish atheism activistsBritish atheistsBritish critics of ChristianityBritish parodistsBritish people of Irish descentBritish philosophers of culture, English pacifistsBritish philosophers of logicBritish philosophers of religionBritish women philosophersCommunist women writersContinental philosophersCorresponding fellows of the British AcademyCritics of political economyDeaths from pneumonia in France, Prix Goncourt winnersDeputies to the French National ConventionEconomic historians, German sociologistsEmigrants from the Russian Empire to Germany, Political party foundersEnglish anti-fascistsEnglish humanistsEnglish prisoners and detaineesEnglish scepticsFellows of the Royal Society of ArtsFeminist studies scholarsFeminist theoristsFree love advocatesFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFrench abolitionistsFrench biographers, French ethicistsFrench essayistsFrench magazine foundersFrench male essayistsFrench political scientistsFrench scientists with disabilitiesGerman anti-capitalists, German socialist feminists, Jewish communistsGerman eugenicistsGerman logicians, Kantian philosophersGerman philologistsGerman writers on atheismIntellectual historians, University of Chicago facultyJewish historiansLinguists from FranceMaterialistsMembers of the International Workingmen's AssociationMoral realistsNobility from the Russian EmpirePeople from MonmouthshirePeople killed in the French RevolutionPhilosophers of nihilismPhilosophical anthropologyPlatonistsProto-feministsRussian male journalistsScholars of antisemitismSecular humanistsSet theoristsThe New School facultyUniversal basic income writersUniversity of Bonn alumniUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyUniversity of Jena alumniVladimir LeninVoting theoristsWriters about communism
Bertrand Russell
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the influential 20th-century British thinker Bertrand Russell, widely regarded as one of the founders of Analytical philosophy.
6 December 2012
Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Mike Beaney, Hilary Greaves
PhilosophyNobel laureates in LiteratureBritish philosophers of languageGeorgistsEnglish political writersFree love advocatesSet theoristsAristotelian philosophersWriters about religion and scienceJerusalem Prize recipientsFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeEnglish logiciansPhilosophers of mathematicsBritish historians of philosophyEmpiricistsOntologistsMetaphysics writersBritish political philosophersFellows of the Royal SocietyMetaphilosophersTheorists on Western civilizationBritish ethicistsPhilosophers of literatureBritish free speech activists20th-century English philosophersAnalytic philosophersEnglish humanistsRhetoric theoristsAtheist philosophersEnglish political philosophersEnglish anti-fascistsEnglish people of Scottish descentPhilosophers of historyEnglish agnostics20th-century atheistsConsequentialistsEnglish socialistsPhilosophers of social scienceBritish philosophers of religionPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyLogiciansPhilosophers of lawPhilosophers of sexuality19th-century English mathematiciansCritics of work and the work ethicSecular humanistsPhilosophers of technologyPhilosophers of economicsWriters about globalizationBritish philosophers of educationBritish philosophers of culture, English pacifistsBritish philosophers of logicCritics of the Catholic ChurchPeople from MonmouthshireAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeLinguistic turnPhilosophers of loveEuropean democratic socialistsBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsWriters about activism and social changeEnglish Nobel laureatesMembers of the Order of MeritEnglish prisoners and detaineesUtilitariansIntellectual historians, University of Chicago facultyEnglish scepticsBritish critics of ChristianityEnglish people of Welsh descentUniversal basic income writersBritish philosophers of mind19th-century English philosophersBritish critics of religionsAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of science19th-century atheistsUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyAnti-nationalists20th-century English mathematiciansEnglish essayistsFreethought writersBritish atheism activistsWriters about communism19th-century English essayistsEnglish male non-fiction writersCamus
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
CultureNobel laureates in Literature20th-century atheistsExistentialistsPhilosophers of deathAbsurdist writersAnti-Stalinist leftFrench atheists20th-century French dramatists and playwrightsFrench Nobel laureates20th-century French novelistsFrench humanistsLegion of Honour refusalsFrench anarchists, French anti-capitalists, French anti-fascists20th-century French male writersLibertarian socialistsAtheist philosophersFrench male essayists20th-century French philosophersFrench socialistsModernist writersPhilosophers of pessimism20th-century French essayists, 20th-century French short story writersCondorcet
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the influential French philosopher and mathematician who tried to apply his Enlightenment ideas on the benefit of education to the French Revolution.
11 January 2024
Featuring: Rachel Hammersley, Richard Whatmore, Tom Hopkins
PhilosophyFrench political scientistsFrench sociologistsDeputies to the French National ConventionFrench biographers, French ethicistsHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesFrench philosophers of scienceFrench feminists18th-century philosophersTheoretical historiansAge of EnlightenmentFrench atheists18th-century French mathematiciansRationalistsBurials at the Panthéon, ParisFrench philosophers of historyFrench philosophers of educationFellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences18th-century French writersMembers of the Académie FrançaiseFrench male non-fiction writersFrench philosophers of cultureMembers of the French Academy of SciencesAtheist philosophersVoting theoristsFrench abolitionistsPhilosophers of religionProto-feministsEnlightenment philosophersUniversity of Paris alumniMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesPeople killed in the French RevolutionScholars of feminist philosophy18th-century French male writersIris Murdoch
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the growing prominence of the philosophy of one of the most celebrated novelists of the 20th century, who developed her ideas in response to WWII.
21 October 2021
Featuring: Anil Gomes, Anne Rowe, Miles Leeson
Culture20th-century atheistsBritish people of Irish descentAlumni of Newnham College, CambridgeBritish socialistsBritish ethicistsPhilosophers of literatureJames Tait Black Memorial Prize recipientsAnalytic philosophersPhilosophy writersPlatonistsVirtue ethicistsFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesBritish parodistsPhilosophers of cultureAlumni of Somerville College, OxfordBritish women philosophersBritish historians of philosophyBritish atheists20th-century British philosophersAtheist philosophersPhilosophers of history20th-century British non-fiction writersLenin
Melvyn Bragg investigates what drove the Soviet leader Lenin, and enabled him to develop a model to export communism and build an original political system that remained intact for over seventy years.
16 March 2000
Featuring: Robert Service, Vitali Vitaliev
PhilosophySocialist feminists20th-century atheists20th-century pseudonymous writersNobility from the Russian EmpireRussian atheistsMarxist theoristsEmigrants from the Russian Empire to Germany, Political party founders19th-century atheistsCritics of religionsAtheist philosophersRussian male journalists19th-century pseudonymous writersAnti-nationalistsPolitical philosophersVladimir Lenin19th-century philosophers from the Russian Empire, 20th-century Russian philosophers, Emigrants from the Russian Empire to Switzerland, Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United Kingdom, Russian communists, Russian revolutionariesAnti-monarchistsAnti-imperialistsLeaders who took power by coupLévi-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
CulturePhilosophers of linguistics20th-century atheistsFrench sociologistsMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesLinguists from FranceCorresponding fellows of the British AcademyMetaphilosophersJewish historiansLiteracy and society theoristsPhilosophers of social scienceForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesFrench philosophers of scienceTheorists on Western civilizationPhenomenologists20th-century French memoiristsFrench atheistsCritical theoristsWriters about religion and scienceWriters about globalizationFrench philosophers of historyFrench epistemologistsFrench philosophers of educationGrand Cross of the Legion of HonourPhilosophers of languageThe New School faculty20th-century French male writersMembers of the Académie Française20th-century essayistsFrench male non-fiction writersAcademic staff of the Collège de FranceFrench essayistsFrench philosophers of cultureIntellectual historyAtheist philosophersJewish atheistsOntologistsPhilosophers of mindMetaphysiciansJewish philosophers20th-century French philosophersLycée Condorcet alumniPhilosophers of religionMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyWriters about communismWriters about activism and social changeUniversity of Paris alumniWriters from ParisMetaphysics writersMarx
Melvyn Bragg discusses Karl Marx who once said that while other philosophers wanted to interpret the world, he wanted to change it. And he changed the world with his Communist Manifesto.
14 July 2005
Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Francis Wheen, Gareth Stedman Jones
PhilosophyEpistemologistsCritics of political economySocialist feministsHumboldt University of Berlin alumniMaterialistsUniversity of Jena alumniGerman political philosophersGerman anti-capitalists, German socialist feminists, Jewish communistsFellows of the Royal Society of Arts19th-century German philosophersTheorists on Western civilizationStateless peoplePamphleteersMarxist theoristsPhilosophers of lawCritics of work and the work ethicSocial philosophersPhilosophers of technologyMembers of the International Workingmen's AssociationPhilosophers of economicsWriters about religion and scienceWriters about globalizationUniversity of Bonn alumniPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of educationPhilosophical anthropologyGerman revolutionariesAnti-consumerists19th-century atheistsCritics of religionsAtheist philosophersCritics of JudaismEconomic historians, German sociologistsOntologistsPhilosophers of mindJewish socialistsMetaphysiciansGerman writers on atheismAnti-nationalistsGerman Marxist writersPhilosophers of religionBurials at Highgate CemeteryWriters about activism and social change19th-century German historiansPhilosophers of sciencePhilosophers of historyGerman male non-fiction writersAnti-imperialistsPhilippa Foot
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the most notable philosophers of the 20th century, who explored why it mattered to be moral and why humans needed virtues to flourish.
16 May 2024
Featuring: Anil Gomes, Sophie Grace Chappell, Rachael Wiseman
PhilosophyUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyEnglish atheistsFellows of the British AcademyVirtue ethicists20th-century English philosophersAlumni of Somerville College, OxfordAnalytic philosophersPhilosophy writersAristotelian philosophersFellows of Somerville College, OxfordEnglish women philosophersBritish atheistsAtheist philosophersPhilosophers of loveMoral realistsWittgensteinian philosophersSartre
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
PhilosophyLycée Henri-IV alumni20th-century atheistsNobel laureates in LiteratureFrench sociologistsBlind writersFrench communistsFrench philosophers of artPhilosophers of nihilismFrench biographers, French ethicistsExistentialistsPhilosophers of social scienceFrench philosophers of sciencePhilosophers of deathÉcole Normale Supérieure alumniTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of literatureContinental philosophersPhilosophers of sexualityPhenomenologistsFree love advocatesFrench atheistsPhilosophy writersCritical theoristsBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryFrench Nobel laureates20th-century French novelistsFrench humanistsLegion of Honour refusals20th-century French dramatists and playwrightsFrench magazine foundersFrench anarchists, French anti-capitalists, French anti-fascistsFrench philosophers of historyAphoristsFrench philosophers of educationFrench political philosophersFrench epistemologistsFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesLycée Louis-le-Grand alumniFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFrench literary criticsLibertarian socialistsFrench philosophers of cultureFrench Resistance membersAtheist philosophersFrench scientists with disabilitiesOntologistsPhilosophers of mindMetaphysicians20th-century French philosophersWriters from ParisFrench socialistsScholars of antisemitismSchopenhauer
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
PhilosophyGerman philosophers of artGerman philosophers of scienceGerman political philosophers19th-century German writersMetaphilosophersGerman eugenicists19th-century German philosophersTheorists on Western civilizationSimple living advocatesPhilosophers of literatureGerman idealistsPhilosophers of logicLogiciansPhenomenologistsPhilosophy writersCritical theoristsGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of Berlin19th-century German male writersAphoristsGerman philosophers of languagePhilosophers of psychologyUniversity of Göttingen alumniGerman critics of ChristianityGerman philologistsGerman philosophers of culture19th-century German essayists19th-century atheistsCritics of religionsAtheist philosophersGerman male essayistsCritics of JudaismOntologistsPhilosophers of loveGerman writers on atheismGerman ethicists, German philosophers of educationGerman monarchistsPhilosophers of pessimismGerman epistemologistsAnti-natalistsGerman philosophers of historyGerman male non-fiction writersGerman logicians, Kantian philosophersSimone 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
PhilosophySocialist feministsFrench communistsFrench philosophers of artFeminist theoristsExistentialistsFrench feministsBisexual women writersPhilosophers of sexuality20th-century French memoiristsFrench bisexual women, French bisexual writersFrench atheistsBurials at Montparnasse Cemetery20th-century French novelistsFormer Roman CatholicsFeminist studies scholarsJerusalem Prize recipientsFrench philosophers of educationFrench political philosophersCommunist women writersBisexual memoiristsDeaths from pneumonia in France, Prix Goncourt winnersFrench women philosophersFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFrench literary criticsAtheist philosophersBisexual novelistsFrench women novelists20th-century French philosophers20th-century French women writersFrench LGBTQ novelistsWriters from ParisUniversity of Paris alumniScholars of feminist philosophy