Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and other Founding Fathers of the United States.
18 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
CultureHistoryPhilosophyReligionScienceFellows of the Royal SocietyOntologistsSocial philosophersPhilosophy 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 SocietyAphoristsEnglish essayistsRecipients of the Copley MedalWriters about religion and scienceAge of EnlightenmentAtheist philosophersEnglish male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of lawPhilosophers of social science18th-century philosophers20th-century atheistsForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesJewish philosophersMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesNobel laureates in LiteraturePhilosophers of economicsWriters from ParisBritish male essayistsEnglish people of Scottish descentExistentialistsFrench atheistsGerman LutheransGerman political philosophersHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesLogiciansMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of psychologyPhilosophers of sexualityUniversity of Paris alumni20th-century French philosophersAmerican male non-fiction writersCatholic philosophersEmpiricistsEnglish non-fiction writersFrench political philosophersMembers of the French Academy of SciencesPhilosophers of languagePolitical philosophers20th-century essayistsAmerican people of English descentAnalytic philosophersChristian ethicistsEnglish agnosticsGerman philosophers of education, German ethicistsJewish agnosticsMembers of the Académie FrançaiseModernist writersPhilosophers of technologyRoyal Medal winnersSimple living advocatesTheoretical historiansVirtue ethicists19th-century English non-fiction writers19th-century English writers20th-century French novelists20th-century German philosophersAlumni of Trinity College DublinEnglish Nobel laureatesEnglish feminists, English feminist writersEnglish socialistsFrench philosophers of educationFrench philosophers of historyFrench philosophers of scienceIrish male dramatists and playwrights, Irish expatriates in FranceLegion of Honour refusalsMembers of the Bavarian Academy of SciencesMembers of the Order of MeritMembers of the Prussian Academy of SciencesPeople associated with electricityPhilosophers of deathRationalistsRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Rhetoric theoristsUniversity of Göttingen alumniWomen religious writers18th-century classical composers19th-century British physicists19th-century French philosophers19th-century German male musicians20th-century British philosophers20th-century Irish dramatists and playwrights, 20th-century Irish male writers, 20th-century Irish poetsAcademic staff of the University of GöttingenAlumni of Newnham College, CambridgeAmerican political philosophersBritish Nobel laureatesBritish ethicistsBritish philosophers of mindBritish political philosophersCritical theoristsEnglish inventorsEnglish libertariansEnglish physicistsEnglish political philosophersEnglish republicansEuropean democratic socialistsFellows of the British AcademyFrench Nobel laureatesFrench feministsFrench literary criticsFrench male non-fiction writersFrench philosophers of culture, French sociologistsFrench socialistsHeidelberg University alumniIndependent scientistsLibertarian socialistsMembers of the American Academy of Arts and LettersMembers of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and HumanitiesPhenomenologistsPhilosophers of pessimismScholars of feminist philosophyUtilitariansÉcole Normale Supérieure alumni18th-century American writers, Founding Fathers of the United States, People of the American Enlightenment18th-century French male writers18th-century French mathematicians18th-century French writers18th-century German composers18th-century pseudonymous writers19th-century English essayists19th-century English philosophers20th-century British biologistsAbsurdist writersActivists for African-American civil rightsAlumni of Somerville College, OxfordAmerican autobiographersAmerican deistsAmerican male journalistsAmerican philosophers of cultureAmerican philosophers of educationAmerican philosophers of religionAmerican slave ownersBlind writersBritish free speech activistsBritish historians of philosophyBritish philosophers of languageBritish socialistsBurials at Highgate CemeteryBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryBurials at the Panthéon, ParisCambridge University Moral Sciences ClubCongressional Gold Medal recipientsConsequentialistsCorresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesDeterministsEnglish logiciansEnglish political writersEnglish suffragistsExilliteratur writersExperimental physicistsFellows of Somerville College, OxfordFilioqueForeign members of the Royal SocietyFrench Resistance membersFrench anarchists, French anti-fascists, French anti-capitalistsFrench communistsFrench deistsFrench epistemologistsFrench philosophers of artFrench physicistsGerman Ashkenazi JewsGerman agnosticsGerman classical composersGerman travel writersGerman women philosophersHumor researchersIrish Nobel laureates, Irish modernist poetsIrish male novelistsJames Tait Black Memorial Prize recipientsJewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United StatesLycée Condorcet alumniLycée Henri-IV alumniMental calculatorsNobel laureates in ChemistryOptical physicistsPeople associated with the University of BaselPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyProtestants in the German ResistanceRoman Catholic writersScholars of Trinity College DublinWittgensteinian philosophersWriters from Dublin (city)18th-century American male writers, American foreign policy writers18th-century American politicians, Signers of the United States Constitution, American Freemasons18th-century German LGBTQ people18th-century German astronomers18th-century keyboardists19th-century British chemists19th-century English scientists19th-century French writers20th-century American essayists20th-century American philosophers20th-century American women writers20th-century British non-fiction writers20th-century German non-fiction writers20th-century German women writers20th-century Swiss writersAcademic staff of the Collège de FranceAcademics of Trinity College DublinAction theoristsAnglo-ScotsAnti-natalistsBertrand Russell Professors of PhilosophyBritish atheistsBritish biochemistsBritish classical liberal economistsBritish crystallographers, British biophysicists, 20th-century British chemistsBritish parodistsBritish people of Irish descentBritish philosophers of logicBritish scientific instrument makersBritish scientists with disabilitiesBritish social liberalsBritish women philosophersClassical-period composersCommanding Generals of the United States Army, Presidents of the United StatesContinental philosophersConverts to Roman CatholicismCreators of writing systemsDeaths from kidney failure in the United KingdomDeputies to the French National ConventionDuke University facultyEnglish ProtestantsEnglish QuakersEnglish autobiographersExistentialist theologiansForeign members of the USSR Academy of SciencesFormer AnglicansFree love advocatesFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFrench abolitionistsFrench agnosticsFrench ethicists, French biographersFrench humanists, 20th-century French dramatists and playwrightsFrench mathematicians, French fluid dynamicists, French probability theoristsFrench political scientistsFrench scientists with disabilitiesGay scientistsGerman Zionists, American Ashkenazi Jews, American agnostics, American ZionistsGerman male classical composersGrand Officers of the Legion of HonourHistory of Greater ManchesterHonorary Fellows of the Royal Society of EdinburghHuman geographersIndependent scholarsInfectious disease deaths in FranceIrish male short story writers, 20th-century Irish short story writers, 20th-century Irish novelistsJewish existentialistsLinear algebraistsMagneticiansMasonic grand mastersPeople educated at Portora Royal School, Irish writers in FrenchPeople killed in the French RevolutionPeople with Parkinson's diseasePhilosophers from MassachusettsPhilosophers of nihilismPlatonistsPolitical activists from PennsylvaniaPrinceton University facultyPrix Italia winnersProto-feministsRecipients of the Austrian Decoration for Science and ArtRecipients of the Dalton MedalRectors of the University of St AndrewsScholars of antisemitismSystematic theologiansThe New School facultyUK MPs 1865–1868University of Chicago faculty, Intellectual historiansUniversity of Jena alumniUniversity of Marburg alumniVoting theoristsWomen Nobel laureatesWriters 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 FreemasonsBergson 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
PhilosophyFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of mindMetaphysiciansJewish philosophersWriters from ParisNobel laureates in Literature20th-century French philosophersPhilosophers of languageÉcole Normale Supérieure alumni19th-century French philosophersPhenomenologistsFrench Nobel laureatesLycée Condorcet alumniFrench epistemologistsAcademic staff of the Collège de France19th-century French writersCarl Friedrich Gauss
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas of Gauss, 'prince of mathematicians', including those on number theory, geometry, probability theory, astronomy and electromagnetism.
30 November 2017
Featuring: Marcus du Sautoy, Colva Roney-Dougal, Nick Evans
ScienceFellows of the Royal SocietyFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesRecipients of the Copley MedalMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesGerman LutheransUniversity of Göttingen alumniMembers of the Bavarian Academy of SciencesRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Academic staff of the University of GöttingenMembers of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and HumanitiesMental calculatorsCorresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesOptical physicists18th-century German astronomersLinear algebraistsCondorcet
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
PhilosophyFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of religionEnlightenment philosophersAtheist philosophersAge of EnlightenmentMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences18th-century philosophersFrench atheistsUniversity of Paris alumniHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesMembers of the French Academy of SciencesMembers of the Académie FrançaiseTheoretical historiansFrench philosophers of educationFrench philosophers of historyFrench philosophers of scienceRationalistsScholars of feminist philosophyFrench feministsFrench male non-fiction writers18th-century French mathematicians18th-century French writers18th-century French male writersBurials at the Panthéon, ParisDeputies to the French National ConventionFrench abolitionistsFrench political scientistsProto-feministsPeople killed in the French RevolutionVoting theoristsFrench philosophers of culture, French sociologistsFrench ethicists, French biographersDorothy Hodgkin
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the work, ideas and life of the woman who won the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work on the structures of vitamin B12 and penicillin.
3 October 2019
Featuring: Georgina Ferry, Judith Howard, Patricia Fara
ScienceFellows of the Royal SocietyFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesRecipients of the Copley MedalForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesRoyal Medal winnersMembers of the Order of MeritEnglish Nobel laureatesAlumni of Newnham College, CambridgeBritish Nobel laureatesAlumni of Somerville College, OxfordFellows of Somerville College, Oxford20th-century British biologistsNobel laureates in ChemistryForeign members of the USSR Academy of SciencesBritish biochemistsRecipients of the Austrian Decoration for Science and ArtWomen Nobel laureatesRecipients of the Dalton MedalBritish scientists with disabilitiesBritish crystallographers, British biophysicists, 20th-century British chemistsElizabeth Anscombe
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the influential thinker who rejuvenated moral philosophy in the postwar period.
22 June 2023
Featuring: Rachael Wiseman, Constantine Sandis, Roger Teichmann
PhilosophyFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesCatholic philosophersAnalytic philosophersVirtue ethicistsChristian ethicistsFellows of the British Academy20th-century British philosophersAlumni of Newnham College, CambridgeBritish philosophers of mindFellows of Somerville College, OxfordWittgensteinian philosophersBritish philosophers of languageCambridge University Moral Sciences ClubPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyRoman Catholic writersAction theoristsBertrand Russell Professors of PhilosophyBritish women philosophersConverts to Roman CatholicismDeaths from kidney failure in the United KingdomHannah 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 historiansHumboldt
Melvyn Bragg discusses the Prussian naturalist and explorer, Alexander Von Humboldt. A hero in South America; Charles Darwin described him as ‘the greatest scientific traveller who ever lived’.
28 September 2006
Featuring: Jason Wilson, Patricia Fara, Jim Secord
ScienceFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyRecipients of the Copley MedalMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesGerman LutheransMembers of the French Academy of SciencesMembers of the Prussian Academy of SciencesUniversity of Göttingen alumniMembers of the Bavarian Academy of SciencesRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Members of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and HumanitiesIndependent scientistsForeign members of the Royal SocietyGerman travel writersHuman geographersGay scientists18th-century German LGBTQ peopleUniversity of Jena alumniIris 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
CulturePhilosophy writersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of cultureAtheist philosophers20th-century atheistsAnalytic philosophersVirtue ethicists20th-century British philosophersAlumni of Newnham College, CambridgeBritish ethicistsAlumni of Somerville College, OxfordBritish socialistsJames Tait Black Memorial Prize recipientsBritish historians of philosophyBritish atheistsBritish women philosophers20th-century British non-fiction writersBritish parodistsBritish people of Irish descentPlatonistsJohn Dalton
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss scientist John Dalton, who pioneered the development of atomic theory and carried out research into meteorology and colour blindness.
27 October 2016
Featuring: Jim Bennett, Aileen Fyfe, James Sumner
Karl Barth
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Swiss theologian who aimed to put God and Christ at the heart of Christianity when he saw others making humanity and self-revelation its focus.
07 December 2023
Featuring: Stephen Plant, Christiane Tietz, Tom Greggs
ReligionFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesChristian ethicistsAcademic staff of the University of GöttingenProtestants in the German ResistanceFilioquePeople associated with the University of BaselDuke University facultyExistentialist theologiansSystematic theologians20th-century Swiss writersMichael Faraday
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Michael Faraday, the most famous British scientist of the 19th century.
25 December 2015
Featuring: Geoffrey Cantor, Laura Herz, Frank James
ScienceFellows of the Royal SocietyFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesWriters about religion and scienceRecipients of the Copley MedalMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesMembers of the French Academy of SciencesRoyal Medal winnersPeople associated with electricityRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)English inventors19th-century British physicistsEnglish physicistsOptical physicistsExperimental physicistsBurials at Highgate CemeteryEnglish Protestants19th-century British chemists19th-century English scientistsMagneticiansMill
Melvyn Bragg discusses the 19th century political philosopher John Stuart Mill and his treatise On Liberty which is one of the sacred texts of liberalism.
18 May 2006
Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Janet Radcliffe Richards, Alan Ryan
PhilosophyPhilosophy writersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of scienceEnglish essayistsEnglish male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of economicsLogiciansBritish male essayistsPhilosophers of sexualityEnglish people of Scottish descentPhilosophers of psychologyEnglish non-fiction writersEmpiricistsEnglish agnostics19th-century English non-fiction writers19th-century English writersEnglish socialistsScholars of feminist philosophyEuropean democratic socialistsBritish philosophers of mindBritish ethicistsUtilitariansEnglish libertariansEnglish republicansEnglish political philosophersBritish political philosophersBritish philosophers of languageBritish socialistsEnglish logicians19th-century English philosophersEnglish suffragists19th-century English essayistsConsequentialistsEnglish political writersBritish free speech activistsUK MPs 1865–1868Voting theoristsBritish classical liberal economistsEnglish autobiographersRectors of the University of St AndrewsBritish philosophers of logicBritish social liberalsAnglo-ScotsHonorary Fellows of the Royal Society of EdinburghInfectious disease deaths in FranceEnglish feminists, English feminist writersPierre-Simon Laplace
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the great French mathematician who tackled questions on the stability of the Solar System and planet rotation and devised the basis for metrication
8 April 2021
Featuring: Marcus du Sautoy, Timothy Gowers, Colva Roney-Dougal
HistoryFellows of the Royal SocietyFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesMembers of the French Academy of SciencesMembers of the Académie Française18th-century French mathematiciansFrench deistsDeterministsFrench physicistsGrand Officers of the Legion of HonourFrench agnosticsLinear algebraistsFrench mathematicians, French fluid dynamicists, French probability theoristsSamuel 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 playwrightsWashington and the American Revolution
Melvyn Bragg discusses the first President of the United States, George Washington, and the people and ideas that saw the American Revolution overthrow British rule in 1775.
24 June 2004
Featuring: Carol Berkin, Simon Middleton, Colin Bonwick
CultureFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesAmerican male non-fiction writersAmerican people of English descentAmerican slave ownersCongressional Gold Medal recipients18th-century American writers, Founding Fathers of the United States, People of the American EnlightenmentCommanding Generals of the United States Army, Presidents of the United States18th-century American male writers, American foreign policy writers18th-century American politicians, Signers of the United States Constitution, American FreemasonsWilliam and Caroline Herschel
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the pioneering brother and sister who, between them, discovered Uranus, comets, double stars and infrared light at the end of the 18th century.
11 November 2021
Featuring: Monica Grady, Carolin Crawford, Jim Bennett
ScienceFellows of the Royal SocietyFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesRecipients of the Copley MedalMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesGerman Lutherans18th-century classical composers19th-century German male musicians18th-century German composersGerman classical composers18th-century German astronomersClassical-period composersBritish scientific instrument makers18th-century keyboardistsGerman male classical composers