French atheists
Irreligion in France has a long history and a large demographic constitution, with the advancement of atheism and the deprecation of theistic religion dating back as far as the French Revolution. In 2015, according to estimates, at least 29% of the country's population identifies as atheists and 63% identifies as non-religious.
8 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
CultureHistoryPhilosophyOntologistsFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindTheorists on Western civilizationWriters about activism and social changeMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of religionEnlightenment philosophersMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyAge of EnlightenmentAphoristsWriters about religion and scienceAtheist philosophers20th-century atheistsMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesNobel laureates in LiteraturePhilosophers of social science18th-century philosophersExistentialistsForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesJewish philosophersMetaphilosophersUniversity of Paris alumniWriters from Paris20th-century French philosophersFrench political philosophersHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of sexuality19th-century atheistsLiteracy and society theoristsMembers of the French Academy of SciencesPhilosophers of language20th-century essayistsBurials at Père Lachaise CemeteryFormer Roman CatholicsFrench philosophers of educationFrench philosophers of scienceFrench women philosophersMembers of the Académie FrançaiseModernist writersTheoretical historians20th-century French novelistsConversationalistsFrench male non-fiction writersFrench philosophers of cultureFrench philosophers of historyFrench socialistsLegion of Honour refusalsMetaphysics writersPhenomenologistsPhilosophers of deathRationalistsWriters about globalizationÉcole Normale Supérieure alumni19th-century French philosophersBisexual novelistsCritical theoristsDiscoverers of chemical elementsFrench LGBTQ novelistsFrench Nobel laureatesFrench epistemologistsFrench feministsFrench literary criticsFrench philosophers of artFrench sociologistsFrench women novelistsLGBTQ Roman CatholicsLibertarian socialistsPhilosophers of pessimismScholars of feminist philosophy18th-century French male writers18th-century French mathematicians18th-century French writers19th-century French painters19th-century mystics20th-century French women writers20th-century mysticsAbsurdist writersAcademic staff of the Collège de FranceBisexual memoiristsBlind writersBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryBurials at the Panthéon, ParisCorresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesExperimental physicistsFrench Resistance membersFrench Roman Catholic writersFrench anarchists, French anti-capitalists, French anti-fascistsFrench bisexual women, French bisexual writersFrench communistsFrench humanistsGrand Cross of the Legion of HonourHonorary members of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Recipients of the Matteucci MedalIntellectual historyJerusalem Prize recipientsJewish atheistsLycée Condorcet alumniLycée Henri-IV alumniLycée Louis-le-Grand alumniNobel laureates in ChemistryNobel laureates in PhysicsPeople with hypochondriasisPhilosophers of linguisticsSocialist feminists19th-century French LGBTQ people, 20th-century French LGBTQ people19th-century French chemists20th-century French dramatists and playwrights20th-century French essayists, 20th-century French short story writers20th-century French male writers20th-century French memoirists20th-century male artistsAcademic staff of the University of ParisAnti-Stalinist leftBisexual women writersCommunist women writersContinental philosophersCorresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1917–1925)Corresponding fellows of the British AcademyDeaths from pneumonia in France, Prix Goncourt winnersDeputies to the French National ConventionFeminist studies scholarsFeminist theoristsFree love advocatesFrench Impressionist paintersFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFrench abolitionistsFrench agnosticsFrench biographers, French ethicistsFrench essayistsFrench magazine foundersFrench male essayistsFrench political scientistsFrench scientists with disabilitiesFrench short story writersFrench women memoiristsFrench women physicistsJewish historiansLinguists from FranceNaturalized citizens of FrancePainters from ParisPeople killed in the French RevolutionPhilosophers of nihilismProto-feministsScholars of antisemitismThe New School facultyVoting theoristsWomen Nobel laureatesWomen inventorsWomen nuclear physicistsWriters about communism
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
Culture20th-century French dramatists and playwrightsFrench socialistsPhilosophers of pessimismFrench male essayistsLegion of Honour refusals20th-century atheistsFrench anarchists, French anti-capitalists, French anti-fascists20th-century French philosophersAnti-Stalinist leftModernist writers20th-century French male writers20th-century French novelistsAbsurdist writersFrench humanistsNobel laureates in LiteratureFrench Nobel laureatesAtheist philosophersLibertarian socialistsPhilosophers of death20th-century French essayists, 20th-century French short story writersExistentialistsFrench atheists20th centuryFranceCondorcet
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 sociologistsFrench philosophers of education18th-century French writers18th-century French mathematiciansFrench biographers, French ethicistsVoting theoristsPhilosophers of religionUniversity of Paris alumniFrench male non-fiction writersFrench feministsFrench philosophers of scienceScholars of feminist philosophy18th-century philosophersBurials at the Panthéon, ParisPeople killed in the French RevolutionFrench abolitionists18th-century French male writersMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesMembers of the Académie FrançaiseHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesProto-feministsFrench philosophers of historyTheoretical historiansFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesRationalistsAtheist philosophersEnlightenment philosophersMembers of the French Academy of SciencesDeputies to the French National ConventionAge of EnlightenmentFrench political scientistsFrench philosophers of cultureFrench atheists18th centuryFranceMathematicsLévi-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
CultureAcademic staff of the Collège de FranceFrench sociologistsLycée Condorcet alumniFrench philosophers of educationThe New School facultyJewish atheistsPhilosophers of mindWriters about globalizationWriters about religion and scienceFrench essayistsMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of religionLiteracy and society theoristsUniversity of Paris alumniCorresponding fellows of the British AcademyPhilosophers of languageFrench male non-fiction writersMetaphysics writersGrand Cross of the Legion of HonourPhilosophers of linguisticsFrench philosophers of scienceMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesWriters about activism and social change20th-century atheists20th-century French philosophersIntellectual historyMembers of the Académie FrançaiseJewish historiansCritical theoristsMetaphysicians20th-century French male writersFrench philosophers of historyWriters about communismTheorists on Western civilizationJewish philosophersWriters from ParisFrench epistemologistsAtheist philosophersPhilosophers of social scienceForeign associates of the National Academy of Sciences20th-century French memoiristsMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyPhenomenologistsLinguists from France20th-century essayistsFrench atheistsOntologistsFrench philosophers of culture20th centuryFranceLanguageMedicineMonet in England
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss why the French impressionist Claude Monet painted the foggy Thames in central London more often than water lilies, haystacks or Rouen Cathedral.
27 June 2024
Featuring: Karen Serres, Frances Fowle, Jackie Wullschläger
Proust
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
Lycée Condorcet alumniDeaths from pneumonia in France, Prix Goncourt winnersFrench literary criticsConversationalistsFrench essayistsFrench male non-fiction writersFormer Roman Catholics20th-century mystics20th-century atheistsFrench short story writers20th-century French philosophers19th-century atheistsPeople with hypochondriasisModernist writersBurials at Père Lachaise Cemetery19th-century French philosophersFrench philosophers of art20th-century French novelistsFrench Roman Catholic writersFrench LGBTQ novelistsWriters from Paris19th-century French LGBTQ people, 20th-century French LGBTQ people20th-century French essayists, 20th-century French short story writersLGBTQ Roman CatholicsAphorists19th-century mysticsFrench atheistsPhilosophers of literature19th century20th centuryFranceSartre
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
PhilosophyScholars of antisemitismFrench sociologists20th-century French dramatists and playwrightsFrench magazine foundersFrench philosophers of educationFrench literary criticsFrench socialistsFrench biographers, French ethicistsPhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of sexualityLegion of Honour refusalsFrench philosophers of scienceLycée Henri-IV alumni20th-century atheistsÉcole Normale Supérieure alumniFrench anarchists, French anti-capitalists, French anti-fascists20th-century French philosophersPhilosophy writersFrench political philosophersCritical theoristsMetaphysiciansBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryFrench communistsBlind writersFree love advocatesFrench philosophers of art20th-century French novelistsFrench philosophers of historyFrench Resistance membersContinental philosophersNobel laureates in LiteratureFrench humanistsFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesFrench Nobel laureatesFrench scientists with disabilitiesTheorists on Western civilizationFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsLycée Louis-le-Grand alumniWriters from ParisPhilosophers of nihilismFrench epistemologistsAtheist philosophersPhilosophers of social scienceLibertarian socialistsPhilosophers of deathOntologistsPhenomenologistsAphoristsExistentialistsPhilosophers of literatureFrench philosophers of cultureFrench atheists20th centuryFranceMedicineSimone 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
PhilosophyDeaths from pneumonia in France, Prix Goncourt winnersFrench philosophers of educationFrench literary criticsFrench women memoiristsPhilosophers of sexualityFeminist studies scholarsBisexual novelistsCommunist women writersSocialist feministsUniversity of Paris alumniBisexual memoiristsFrench feministsScholars of feminist philosophyFormer Roman Catholics20th-century French philosophers20th-century French women writersFrench political philosophersBisexual women writersJerusalem Prize recipientsFrench bisexual women, French bisexual writersBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryFrench communistsFrench philosophers of art20th-century French novelistsFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFeminist theoristsFrench LGBTQ novelistsWriters from ParisAtheist philosophersFrench women novelists20th-century French memoiristsFrench women philosophersExistentialistsFrench atheists20th centuryFranceThe Curies
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the scientific achievements of the Curie family, Marie and Pierre and their daughter Irene Joliot-Curie, all three of whom won Nobel Prizes.
26 March 2015
Featuring: Patricia Fara, Robert Fox, Steven T Bramwell
HistoryWomen Nobel laureatesUniversity of Paris alumniLegion of Honour refusalsFormer Roman CatholicsDiscoverers of chemical elementsHonorary members of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Recipients of the Matteucci MedalBurials at the Panthéon, ParisNaturalized citizens of FranceCorresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesCorresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1917–1925)Nobel laureates in PhysicsWomen nuclear physicistsExperimental physicistsAcademic staff of the University of Paris19th-century French chemistsFrench Nobel laureatesWomen inventorsFrench agnosticsFrench women physicistsFrench atheistsNobel laureates in Chemistry19th centuryFrance