Members of the American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and community outreach. Considered the first learned society in the United States, it has about 1,000 elected members, and by April 2020 had had only 5,710 members since its creation.
14 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
CultureHistoryScienceFellows 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 religionPhilosophers of scienceEnlightenment philosophersAge of EnlightenmentAphoristsRecipients of the Copley MedalWriters about religion and scienceAtheist philosophersBurials at Westminster AbbeyGerman male non-fiction writers20th-century atheistsMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesPhilosophers of social science18th-century philosophersForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesGerman LutheransJewish philosophersMetaphilosophersPantheistsPhilosophers of mathematicsUniversity of Paris alumniWriters from Paris20th-century French philosophersEnglish AnglicansFrench Roman CatholicsFrench atheistsHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophy of scienceAmerican male non-fiction writersClassical liberalismLiteracy and society theoristsMembers of the French Academy of SciencesPhilosophers of language20th-century essayistsAlumni of St John's College, CambridgeAmerican people of English descentEnglish agnosticsEnglish travel writersFrench philosophers of educationFrench philosophers of scienceJewish agnosticsMembers of the Académie FrançaisePhilosophers of technologyRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Royal Medal winnersSimple living advocates18th-century English male writers19th-century English writers19th-century male writersAlumni of the University of EdinburghAnti-nationalistsCharles DarwinEnglish Nobel laureatesFrench male non-fiction writersFrench philosophers of cultureFrench philosophers of historyJewish socialistsKnights BachelorMembers of the Bavarian Academy of SciencesMembers of the Order of MeritMembers of the Prussian Academy of SciencesMetaphysics writersPeople associated with electricityPhenomenologistsRhetoric theoristsUniversity of Göttingen alumniWriters about globalizationÉcole Normale Supérieure alumni18th-century English writers19th-century American male writers19th-century British physicistsAcademic staff of the University of GöttingenAmerican political philosophersBritish Nobel laureatesCritical theoristsCritics of JudaismDeist philosophersDiscoverers of chemical elementsEnglish abolitionistsEnglish inventorsEnglish libertariansEnglish republicansEuropean democratic socialistsForeign members of the Royal SocietyFrench epistemologistsFrench sociologistsIndependent scientistsMembers of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and HumanitiesNaturalized citizens of the United StatesUtilitarians18th-century American writers, Founding Fathers of the United States, People of the American Enlightenment18th-century pseudonymous writers19th-century American philosophers19th-century Anglicans20th-century American male writers20th-century English mathematiciansAcademic staff of the Collège de FranceActivists for African-American civil rightsAlbert EinsteinAmerican autobiographersAmerican deistsAmerican humanistsAmerican male journalistsAmerican philosophers of cultureAmerican philosophers of educationAmerican philosophers of religionAmerican slave ownersCongressional Gold Medal recipientsDeaths from coronary thrombosisEnglish emigrants to the United StatesExperimental physicistsFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeGerman Ashkenazi JewsGerman agnosticsGerman travel writersGrand Cross of the Legion of HonourHonorary members of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Recipients of the Matteucci MedalHuman evolutionHumor researchersInstitute for Advanced Study visiting scholarsIntellectual historyJewish atheistsJewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United StatesLycée Condorcet alumniMembers of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and ArtsMental calculatorsNobel laureates in ChemistryNobel laureates in PhysicsPhilosophers of linguisticsRecipients of Franklin MedalStateless peopleWinners of the Max Planck Medal18th-century American male writers, American foreign policy writers18th-century American politicians, American Freemasons, Signers of the United States Constitution18th-century English people18th-century German LGBTQ people18th-century lexicographers, 18th-century writers in Latin19th-century American businesspeople19th-century American memoirists, People of the Six Years' War19th-century American writers19th-century British biologists, 19th-century English naturalists, British evolutionary biologists, Fellows of the Linnean Society of London, Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society, Fellows of the Zoological Society of London19th-century French chemists20th-century American engineers20th-century American inventors, Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences20th-century British physicists, Members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences20th-century British scientists20th-century French male writers20th-century French memoiristsAcademic staff of ETH ZurichAcademics of the Victoria University of ManchesterAlumni of Christ's College, CambridgeAmerican Ashkenazi Jews, American Zionists, American agnostics, German ZionistsAmerican electrical engineers, People from ManhattanAmerican nationalists, American religious skepticsAmerican people of Dutch descentAnti-monarchistsBotanical nomenclatureBritish deistsBritish theoretical physicists, Mathematical physicistsCavendish Professors of PhysicsCircumnavigators of the globeCommanding Generals of the United States Army, Presidents of the United StatesCorresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1917–1925)Corresponding fellows of the British AcademyCreators of writing systemsDeputies to the French National ConventionEnglish scepticsForeign members of the USSR Academy of SciencesFrench essayistsFrench scientists with disabilitiesGay scientistsHonorary Fellows of the Royal Society of EdinburghHuman geographersIndependent scholarsJewish German physicists, Jewish scientistsJewish historiansLinguists from FranceMasonic grand mastersMembers of the Lincean AcademyNaturalised citizens of AustriaNaturalized citizens of FrancePersons of National Historic Significance (Canada)Philosophers from MassachusettsPolitical activists from PennsylvaniaRadicalsRadio pioneersRecipients of the Dalton MedalRecipients of the Order of the Medjidie, 1st classRecreational cryptographers, Writers from Boston, Writers from PhiladelphiaTaxon authorities of Hypericum speciesThe New School facultyTheoretical biologistsUnited States Military Academy alumniUniversal basic income writersUniversity of Jena alumniWriters about communism
Albert Einstein
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Einstein's impact on the world of physics after his 'miraculous year' in 1905 and why he went on to become so very famous after World War One.
14 September 2023
Featuring: Richard Staley, Diana Kormos Buchwald, John Heilbron
ScienceMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophy of science20th-century American male writersAmerican male non-fiction writersStateless peopleNaturalised citizens of Austria20th-century American inventors, Members of the United States National Academy of SciencesAmerican humanistsNobel laureates in PhysicsRecipients of Franklin MedalJewish German physicists, Jewish scientistsPhilosophers of mathematicsJewish agnosticsGerman agnosticsGerman Ashkenazi JewsAmerican Ashkenazi Jews, American Zionists, American agnostics, German Zionists20th-century American engineersAcademic staff of ETH ZurichJewish socialistsAnti-nationalistsEuropean democratic socialistsNaturalized citizens of the United StatesPantheistsAlbert EinsteinMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyWinners of the Max Planck MedalJewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United StatesPhilosophers of scienceGerman male non-fiction writersBenjamin 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
CultureMasonic grand mastersFellows of the Royal SocietyHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesIndependent scholarsAmerican male non-fiction writersTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of literatureAmerican deistsAge of EnlightenmentSocial philosophersPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of technologyAmerican political philosophersActivists for African-American civil rightsWriters about religion and sciencePolitical activists from PennsylvaniaAphoristsRecipients of the Copley MedalRhetoric theoristsFellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences18th-century pseudonymous writersAmerican people of English descentAmerican philosophers of cultureHumor researchersAmerican male journalistsRecreational cryptographers, Writers from Boston, Writers from PhiladelphiaHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesAmerican philosophers of religion18th-century American politicians, American Freemasons, Signers of the United States ConstitutionPhilosophers from MassachusettsMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyPeople associated with electricityCreators of writing systemsWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of scienceAmerican slave ownersPhilosophers of historyAmerican autobiographers18th-century American writers, Founding Fathers of the United States, People of the American EnlightenmentSimple living advocatesIndependent scientistsAmerican philosophers of educationDarwin: On the Origins of Charles Darwin
Melvyn Bragg presents a series about the life and work of Charles Darwin. Darwin's early life and time at Cambridge, where his interests shifted from religion to natural science.
5 January 2009
Featuring: Jim Moore, Steve Jones, David Norman, Colin Higgins
ScienceEnglish travel writersTheoretical biologistsFellows of the Royal SocietyMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesEnglish AnglicansUtilitariansEnglish abolitionists19th-century British biologists, 19th-century English naturalists, British evolutionary biologists, Fellows of the Linnean Society of London, Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society, Fellows of the Zoological Society of LondonBurials at Westminster AbbeyEnglish sceptics19th-century AnglicansRecipients of the Copley MedalAlumni of Christ's College, CambridgeEnglish agnosticsCharles DarwinAlumni of the University of Edinburgh19th-century English writersCircumnavigators of the globeRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Members of the American Philosophical SocietyDeaths from coronary thrombosisMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesMembers of the Lincean AcademyIndependent scientistsHuman evolutionRoyal Medal winnersHumboldt
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
ScienceUniversity of Jena alumniHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences18th-century German LGBTQ peopleGerman LutheransGerman travel writersForeign members of the Royal SocietyRecipients of the Copley MedalFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesMembers of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and HumanitiesUniversity of Göttingen alumniHuman geographersGay scientistsMembers of the French Academy of SciencesRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Members of the Prussian Academy of SciencesMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesMembers of the Bavarian Academy of SciencesIndependent scientistsLinnaeus
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the pioneering 18th century Swedish botanist, who devised a method of naming species and a new system for classifying plants and animals.
20 April 2023
Featuring: Staffan Müller-Wille, Stella Sandford, Steve Jones
ScienceTaxon authorities of Hypericum species18th-century lexicographers, 18th-century writers in LatinMembers of the Prussian Academy of SciencesFellows of the Royal SocietyMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyBotanical nomenclatureMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesMembers of the French Academy of SciencesLouis Pasteur
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life and work of Louis Pasteur, microbiologist, developer of vaccines, saviour of the French beer and wine industries and preserver of milk.
18 May 2017
Featuring: Andrew Mendelsohn, Anne Hardy, Michael Worboys
ScienceRecipients of the Order of the Medjidie, 1st classMembers of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and ArtsFrench Roman CatholicsMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyMembers of the Académie Française19th-century French chemistsHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesForeign members of the Royal SocietyForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesÉcole Normale Supérieure alumniMembers of the French Academy of SciencesFrench scientists with disabilitiesGrand Cross of the Legion of HonourRecipients of the Copley MedalLévi-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 writersNikola Tesla
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the inventor who helped the advance of electrification in America at the end of the 19th century and cultivated his reputation as a visionary genius
04 April 2024
Featuring: Simon Schaffer, Jill Jonnes, Iwan Morus
ScienceMembers of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and ArtsNaturalized citizens of the United StatesRadio pioneersMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyPeople associated with electricityAmerican humanistsAmerican electrical engineers, People from ManhattanMental calculatorsDeaths from coronary thrombosis20th-century American engineersPaul Dirac
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Bristolian theoretical physicist, ranked alongside Einstein by his peers, who won a Nobel for his work on quantum mechanics.
5 March 2020
Featuring: Graham Farmelo, Valerie Gibson, David Berman
ScienceMembers of the Order of MeritBritish theoretical physicists, Mathematical physicistsFellows of the Royal SocietyAlumni of St John's College, CambridgeForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesEnglish emigrants to the United StatesNobel laureates in PhysicsRecipients of the Copley MedalInstitute for Advanced Study visiting scholarsEnglish agnostics20th-century British physicists, Members of the Pontifical Academy of SciencesBritish Nobel laureatesForeign members of the USSR Academy of Sciences20th-century English mathematiciansAcademic staff of the University of GöttingenMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyWinners of the Max Planck MedalEnglish Nobel laureatesRoyal Medal winnersPresident Ulysses S Grant
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Grant's role in rebuilding America in the decade after the Civil War and his impact on African-Americans and Native Americans.
30 May 2019
Featuring: Erik Mathisen, Susan-Mary Grant, Robert Cook
HistoryAmerican people of English descentMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyCongressional Gold Medal recipientsActivists for African-American civil rightsHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesAmerican slave ownersCommanding Generals of the United States Army, Presidents of the United StatesUnited States Military Academy alumni19th-century American male writers19th-century American memoirists, People of the Six Years' WarRutherford
Melvyn Bragg discusses Ernest Rutherford. He is seen as the father of nuclear science, a great charismatic figure who mapped the landscape of the sub-atomic world.
19 February 2004
Featuring: Simon Schaffer, Jim Al-Khalili, Patricia Fara
ScienceHonorary Fellows of the Royal Society of EdinburghPersons of National Historic Significance (Canada)Foreign associates of the National Academy of Sciences19th-century British physicistsKnights BachelorAcademics of the Victoria University of ManchesterBurials at Westminster AbbeyExperimental physicistsRecipients of Franklin MedalNobel laureates in ChemistryRecipients of the Copley MedalFellows of Trinity College, Cambridge20th-century British physicists, Members of the Pontifical Academy of SciencesRadio pioneersCorresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1917–1925)Honorary members of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Recipients of the Matteucci MedalBritish Nobel laureatesDiscoverers of chemical elementsRecipients of the Dalton MedalCavendish Professors of PhysicsMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyEnglish Nobel laureates20th-century British scientistsThomas Edison
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the work of Thomas Edison, one of the great inventors and cultural figures of modern America.
9 December 2010
Featuring: Simon Schaffer, Kathleen Burk, Iwan Morus
Science20th-century American inventors, Members of the United States National Academy of SciencesAmerican people of English descentMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyPeople associated with electricityCongressional Gold Medal recipientsHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesAmerican electrical engineers, People from ManhattanHonorary members of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Recipients of the Matteucci MedalMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesAmerican people of Dutch descentRecipients of Franklin Medal19th-century American businesspeopleAmerican deistsThomas Paine's Common Sense
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Thomas Paine's pamphlet Common Sense, which was published in 1776 and bolstered support for American independence.
21 January 2016
Featuring: Kathleen Burk, Nicholas Guyatt, Peter Thompson
History19th-century American writersEnglish libertarians19th-century American philosophersBritish deistsDeputies to the French National Convention18th-century philosophersAmerican male non-fiction writersClassical liberalismTheorists on Western civilizationAmerican deists19th-century male writersRadicalsSocial philosophers18th-century English writersAmerican political philosophers18th-century English peoplePolitical activists from PennsylvaniaNaturalized citizens of France18th-century American male writers, American foreign policy writersAmerican philosophers of cultureUniversal basic income writersHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesAmerican philosophers of religionCritics of Judaism19th-century English writersDeist philosophersAmerican nationalists, American religious skepticsMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyEnlightenment philosophersEnglish inventorsWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of historyEnglish republicans18th-century American writers, Founding Fathers of the United States, People of the American EnlightenmentAnti-monarchists18th-century English male writersAmerican philosophers of educationWashington 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 SciencesAmerican people of English descent18th-century American male writers, American foreign policy writers18th-century American politicians, American Freemasons, Signers of the United States ConstitutionMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyCongressional Gold Medal recipientsHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesAmerican slave ownersCommanding Generals of the United States Army, Presidents of the United States18th-century American writers, Founding Fathers of the United States, People of the American EnlightenmentAmerican male non-fiction writers