English philosophers
The philosopher's stone or more properly philosophers' stone (Arabic: ḥajar al-falāsifa, Latin: lapis philosophorum), is a mythic alchemical substance capable of turning base metals such as mercury into gold (chrysopoeia, from the Greek χρυσός khrusos, "gold", and ποιεῖν poiēin, "to make") or silver. It is also called the elixir of life, useful for rejuvenation and for achieving immortality; for many centuries, it was the most sought goal in alchemy.
4 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
John Ruskin
Melvyn Bragg discusses the life and work of John Ruskin, art and social critic, and one of the most influential figures of the Victorian era.
31 March 2005
Featuring: Dinah Birch, Keith Hanley, Stefan Collini
English philosophers19th-century British journalistsEnglish essayistsArchitectural theoreticiansArtists' Rifles soldiersAnglo-ScotsAlumni of King's College LondonAnti-consumeristsAlumni of Christ Church, OxfordEnglish fantasy writersEnglish children's writersArts and Crafts movement artistsEnglish people of Scottish descentMale essayistsCritics of political economy19th-century British economistsCritics of work and the work ethic19th centuryEconomicsMary Wollstonecraft
Melvyn Bragg and guests John Mullan, Karen O'Brien and Barbara Taylor discuss the life and ideas of the pioneering British Enlightenment thinker Mary Wollstonecraft.
31 December 2009
Featuring: Karen O'Brien, John Mullan, Barbara Taylor
PhilosophyFrench–English translators18th-century British essayistsPeople from Somers Town, LondonEnglish philosophersEnglish essayistsEnglish women novelistsHistorians of the French RevolutionScholars of feminist philosophyBritish women essayistsEnglish women philosophersBritish philosophers of education18th-century British philosophersEnglish feminist writers, English feminists18th-century English historiansDeaths in childbirthEnglish UnitariansFeminist theorists18th-century English novelistsFounders of English schools and collegesGerman–English translatorsEnlightenment philosophersBurials at St Pancras Old ChurchEnglish educational theoristsEnglish travel writersWriters of Gothic fictionEnglish republicansGodwin family18th centuryFranceRoger Bacon
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss medieval English scholar Roger Bacon, an early pioneer of science who became known as Doctor Mirabilis.
20 April 2017
Featuring: Jack Cunningham, Amanda Power, Elly Truitt
HistoryEnglish philosophersPhilosophers of languageEmpiricistsEnglish alchemistsMetaphysiciansNatural philosophers13th-century writers in LatinCatholic philosophersPhilosophers of mindEnglish translators, Medieval orientalistsCatholic clergy scientistsScholastic philosophersPhilosophers of literature13th-century philosophersPhilosophers of scienceGrammarians of Latin13th centuryLanguageMedicineWilliam Hazlitt
Melvyn Bragg and guests Jonathan Bate, Uttara Natarajan and AC Grayling discuss the life and works of William Hazlitt.
8 April 2010
Featuring: Jonathan Bate, A. C. Grayling, Uttara Natarajan