Existentialists
Existentialism ( ) is a form of philosophical inquiry that explores the problem of human existence and centers on the subjective experience of thinking, feeling, and acting. Existentialist thinkers frequently explore issues related to the meaning, purpose, and value of human existence.
8 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
CulturePhilosophyOntologistsSocial 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 scienceEpistemologistsAphoristsCritics of the Catholic ChurchWriters about religion and scienceAtheist philosophersGerman male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of lawPhilosophers of social science19th-century German male writers19th-century German philosophers20th-century atheistsChristian humanistsMetaphilosophersNobel laureates in LiteratureWriters from ParisFrench atheistsGerman male essayistsGerman philosophers of historyGerman political philosophersPhilosophers of lovePhilosophers of psychologyPhilosophers of sexualityUniversity of Paris alumni20th-century French philosophersChristian radicalsCritics of work and the work ethicFrench political philosophersGerman philosophers of artGerman philosophers of culturePhilosophers of artPolitical philosophers19th-century pseudonymous writers20th-century essayistsAnalytic philosophersAnti-consumeristsChristian ethicistsCritics of religionsFrench women philosophersGerman philosophers of education, German ethicistsJewish agnosticsModernist writersPeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendarPhilosophers of technology19th-century male writers20th-century French novelists20th-century German philosophersAlumni of Trinity College DublinAnti-nationalistsChristian poetsFormer Roman CatholicsFrench philosophers of educationFrench philosophers of historyFrench philosophers of scienceIrish male dramatists and playwrights, Irish expatriates in FranceIrony theoristsLegion of Honour refusalsLeipzig University alumniPhilosophers of deathPhilosophers of warWomen religious writers19th-century German male musicians19th-century German non-fiction writers20th-century Irish dramatists and playwrights, 20th-century Irish male writers, 20th-century Irish poetsAmerican political philosophersCritical theoristsFrench LGBTQ novelistsFrench Nobel laureatesFrench feministsFrench literary criticsFrench philosophers of culture, French sociologistsFrench socialistsFrench women novelistsGerman critics of ChristianityGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionHeidelberg University alumniLibertarian socialistsMembers of the American Academy of Arts and LettersPhenomenologistsPhilosophers of pessimismScholars of feminist philosophyÉcole Normale Supérieure alumni19th-century American philosophers19th-century German novelists19th-century deaths from tuberculosis19th-century essayists20th-century French women writersAbsurdist writersAmerican philosophers of educationAmerican philosophers of religionBisexual novelistsBlind writersBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryDeterministsExilliteratur writersFrench Resistance membersFrench anarchists, French anti-fascists, French anti-capitalistsFrench bisexual women, French bisexual writersFrench communistsFrench epistemologistsFrench philosophers of artGerman Ashkenazi JewsGerman agnosticsGerman epistemologistsGerman women philosophersIrish Nobel laureates, Irish modernist poetsIrish male novelistsJerusalem Prize recipientsJewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United StatesLycée Henri-IV alumniPeople associated with the University of BaselPeople from the Province of SaxonyPhilosophers of timeScholars of Trinity College DublinSocialist feministsStateless peopleWriters from Dublin (city)19th-century American writers19th-century German journalists19th-century Prussian people20th-century American essayists20th-century American philosophers20th-century American women writers20th-century French essayists, 20th-century French short story writers20th-century French male writers20th-century French memoirists20th-century German non-fiction writers20th-century German women writersAcademics of Trinity College DublinAmerican philosophers of science, American philosophers of mindAnti-Stalinist leftAnti-natalistsBisexual memoirists, Bisexual women writersCommunist women writersContinental philosophersCorresponding fellows of the British AcademyDeaths from pneumonia in GermanyExistentialist theologiansFeminist studies scholarsFeminist theoristsFormer AnglicansFree love advocatesFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFrench ethicists, French biographersFrench humanists, 20th-century French dramatists and playwrightsFrench male essayistsFrench scientists with disabilitiesGerman Zionists, American Ashkenazi Jews, American agnostics, American ZionistsGerman music criticsIrish male short story writers, 20th-century Irish short story writers, 20th-century Irish novelistsJewish existentialistsPeople educated at Portora Royal School, Irish writers in FrenchPeople with Parkinson's diseasePhilosophers of nihilismPrinceton University facultyPrix Goncourt winners, Deaths from pneumonia in FrancePrix Italia winnersPsychologists of religionScholars of antisemitismThe New School facultyUniversity of Bonn alumniUniversity of Chicago faculty, Intellectual historiansUniversity of Copenhagen alumniUniversity of Marburg alumniWilliam James
Camus
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
CultureAtheist philosophers20th-century atheistsNobel laureates in LiteratureFrench atheistsExistentialists20th-century French philosophersModernist writersLegion of Honour refusals20th-century French novelistsPhilosophers of deathFrench socialistsFrench Nobel laureatesPhilosophers of pessimismLibertarian socialistsAbsurdist writers20th-century French male writersFrench male essayistsAnti-Stalinist leftFrench anarchists, French anti-fascists, French anti-capitalistsFrench humanists, 20th-century French dramatists and playwrights20th-century French essayists, 20th-century French short story writersHannah Arendt
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas of Hannah Arendt who examined totalitarianism and politics and, when covering the Eichmann trial, explored 'the banality of evil'.
2 February 2017
Featuring: Lyndsey Stonebridge, Frisbee Sheffield, Robert Eaglestone
PhilosophySocial philosophersPhilosophy writersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of sciencePhilosophers of lawGerman political philosophersExistentialistsPolitical philosophersJewish agnosticsPhilosophers of technologyWomen religious writers20th-century German philosophersHeidelberg University alumniMembers of the American Academy of Arts and LettersAmerican political philosophersExilliteratur writersGerman agnosticsGerman Ashkenazi JewsJewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United StatesGerman women philosophersAmerican philosophers of educationPrinceton University faculty20th-century American essayists20th-century American women writers20th-century German women writers20th-century American philosophers20th-century German non-fiction writersJewish existentialistsThe New School facultyScholars of antisemitismUniversity of Marburg alumniGerman philosophers of education, German ethicistsGerman Zionists, American Ashkenazi Jews, American agnostics, American ZionistsUniversity of Chicago faculty, Intellectual historiansKierkegaard
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 religionSamuel Beckett
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life and work of the author of Waiting for Godot, who lived in Paris and wrote in French as he found that more difficult than writing in English
17 January 2019
Featuring: Steven Connor, Laura Salisbury, Mark Nixon
CultureFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesNobel laureates in LiteratureExistentialistsModernist writers20th-century essayistsAlumni of Trinity College DublinPhilosophers of pessimismScholars of Trinity College DublinWriters from Dublin (city)Absurdist writersIrish male novelistsFrench Resistance membersBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryPrix Italia winnersAcademics of Trinity College DublinAnti-natalistsFormer AnglicansPeople with Parkinson's diseaseIrish male dramatists and playwrights, Irish expatriates in France20th-century Irish dramatists and playwrights, 20th-century Irish male writers, 20th-century Irish poetsIrish Nobel laureates, Irish modernist poetsPeople educated at Portora Royal School, Irish writers in FrenchIrish male short story writers, 20th-century Irish short story writers, 20th-century Irish novelistsSartre
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 playwrightsSimone 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
PhilosophyAtheist philosophersWriters from ParisFrench atheistsUniversity of Paris alumniPhilosophers of sexualityExistentialistsFrench political philosophers20th-century French philosophersFrench women philosophersFrench philosophers of education20th-century French novelistsFormer Roman CatholicsScholars of feminist philosophyFrench feministsFrench women novelistsFrench LGBTQ novelistsFrench literary critics20th-century French women writersBisexual novelistsBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryFrench communistsJerusalem Prize recipientsFrench philosophers of artSocialist feministsFeminist studies scholarsCommunist women writers20th-century French memoiristsFeminist theoristsFrench bisexual women, French bisexual writersBisexual memoirists, Bisexual women writersPrix Goncourt winners, Deaths from pneumonia in FranceFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsWilliam James's The Varieties of Religious Experience
Melvyn Bragg and guests Jonathan Ree, John Haldane and Gwen Griffith-Dickson discuss The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James.
13 May 2010
Featuring: Jonathan Rée, John Haldane, Gwen Griffith-Dickson
PhilosophyOntologistsPhilosophers of historyExistentialistsAnalytic philosophersPhilosophers of deathPhilosophers of warMembers of the American Academy of Arts and Letters19th-century American philosophersAmerican philosophers of religion20th-century American philosophers19th-century American writersCorresponding fellows of the British AcademyWilliam JamesPsychologists of religionAmerican philosophers of science, American philosophers of mind