Metaphysicians
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality, the first principles of being, identity and change, space and time, causality, necessity, and possibility. It includes questions about the nature of consciousness and the relationship between mind and matter, between substance and attribute, and between potentiality and actuality.
16 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
CultureHistoryPhilosophyAnglican saintsOntologistsSocial philosophersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of historyWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of scienceEnlightenment philosophersMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyEpistemologistsAge of EnlightenmentAphoristsCritics of the Catholic ChurchPhilosophers of educationWriters about religion and scienceAtheist philosophersGerman male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of law17th-century English male writers20th-century atheistsNobel laureates in LiteraturePhilosophers of social science19th-century German male writers19th-century German philosophersChristian humanistsExistentialistsForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesGerman LutheransJewish philosophersMetaphilosophersPantheistsPhilosophers of economicsPhilosophers of mathematicsPhilosophers of psychologyUniversity of Paris alumniWriters from Paris20th-century French philosophersAristotelian philosophersBritish male essayistsFrench atheistsFrench political philosophersGerman male essayistsGerman philosophers of historyGerman political philosophersHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesLogiciansLutheran saintsMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesNatural law ethicistsNatural philosophersPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of lovePhilosophers of sexuality19th-century atheistsCatholic philosophersChristian radicalsCritics of work and the work ethicEmpiricistsGerman philosophers of artGerman philosophers of cultureIslamic philosophersLiteracy and society theoristsPeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendarPhilosophers of artPhilosophers of languagePolitical philosophers17th-century English writers17th-century writers in Latin19th-century German essayists19th-century pseudonymous writers20th-century essayistsAlumni of St John's College, CambridgeAnalytic philosophersAnti-consumeristsChristian ethicistsCritics of religionsFrench philosophers of educationFrench philosophers of scienceGerman ethicists, German philosophers of educationJewish agnosticsMarxist theoristsMembers of the Académie FrançaisePhilosophers of technologyRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Theoretical historiansVirtue ethicists18th-century German male writers19th-century German male musicians19th-century male writers20th-century French novelistsAnti-nationalistsBritish critics of religionsBritish philosophers of educationChristian poetsFrench male non-fiction writersFrench philosophers of cultureFrench philosophers of historyFrench socialistsGerman philosophers of languageHeidelberg University alumniHumboldt University of Berlin alumniIrony theoristsJewish socialistsKnights BachelorLegion of Honour refusalsLeipzig University alumniMetaphysics writersPhenomenologistsPhilosophers of deathPolitical realistsRationalistsRhetoric theoristsScholastic philosophersWriters about globalizationÉcole Normale Supérieure alumni17th-century English philosophers18th-century German philosophers, 18th-century essayists19th-century French philosophers19th-century German non-fiction writers20th-century British philosophersAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeAngelic visionariesBisexual male writersBritish ethicistsBritish political philosophersClassical theismCritical theoristsCritics of JudaismCritics of atheismEnglish philosophersEnglish physicistsEnglish political philosophersFellows of the British AcademyFrench Nobel laureatesFrench epistemologistsFrench literary criticsFrench philosophers of artFrench sociologistsGerman Marxist writersGerman critics of ChristianityGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionLibertarian socialistsMedieval Latin-language poetsPeople with post-traumatic stress disorder13th-century philosophers13th-century writers in Latin18th-century German educators, 18th-century historians, 19th-century German educators, 19th-century historians18th-century German writers19th-century German historians19th-century German novelists19th-century deaths from tuberculosis19th-century essayists19th-century mystics19th-century non-fiction writers from the Russian Empire20th-century British essayistsAcademic staff of the Collège de FranceAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of BerlinAlchemists of the medieval Islamic worldAnarchist writersAsharis, Muslim critics of atheismAutobiographersBlind writersBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsBritish historians of philosophyBurials at Highgate CemeteryBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryCambridge University Moral Sciences ClubCorresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesDeterministsDoctors of the ChurchFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeFrench Resistance membersFrench anarchists, French anti-capitalists, French anti-fascistsFrench communistsFrench humanistsGeorgistsGerman epistemologistsGerman idealistsGerman revolutionariesGrand Cross of the Legion of HonourIntellectual historyJewish atheistsLinguistic turnLycée Condorcet alumniLycée Henri-IV alumniLycée Louis-le-Grand alumniMembers of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and ArtsPamphleteersPeople associated with the University of BaselPeople from the Province of SaxonyPeople of the Age of EnlightenmentPhilosophers of linguisticsPhilosophers of timePresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyRecipients of the Austrian Decoration for Science and ArtSocialist feministsStateless peopleWittgensteinian philosophers12th-century Muslim theologians19th-century French writers19th-century German journalists19th-century Prussian people19th-century dramatists and playwrights from the Russian Empire, 19th-century short story writers from the Russian Empire, 20th-century Russian dramatists and playwrights, 20th-century Russian short story writers, Novelists from the Russian Empire, Philanthropists from the Russian Empire, Russian male dramatists and playwrights, Russian male novelists, Russian opinion journalists, Russian-language writers20th-century Austrian philosophers, Austrian agnostics, Austrian essayists, Austrian logicians, British agnostics, British logicians, British people of Austrian-Jewish descent, Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom, Writers from Vienna20th-century British non-fiction writers20th-century French dramatists and playwrights20th-century French male writers20th-century French memoirists20th-century letter writers9th-century philosophersAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceAnti-imperialistsArabic-language commentators on AristotleAstronomers of the medieval Islamic worldAustrian people of Jewish descent, Austro-Hungarian military personnel of World War IBaruch SpinozaBertrand Russell Professors of PhilosophyBisexual military personnelBritish critics of ChristianityBritish male non-fiction writersBritish social liberalsBurials at the Dorotheenstadt CemeteryCatholic clergy scientistsChristian anarchists, Nonviolence advocatesChristian apologistsChristian vegetariansContinental philosophersCorresponding fellows of the British AcademyCritics of MarxismCritics of political economyDeaths from choleraDeaths from pneumonia in GermanyDominican mysticsEconomic historians, German sociologistsEconomists of the medieval Islamic world, MujaddidEnglish alchemistsEnglish theologiansEnglish translators, Medieval orientalistsExistentialist theologiansFellows of the Royal Society of ArtsFree love advocatesFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFrench biographers, French ethicistsFrench essayistsFrench magazine foundersFrench scientists with disabilitiesGerman anti-capitalists, German socialist feminists, Jewish communistsGerman military personnel of the Franco-Prussian WarGerman music criticsGerman writers on atheismGrammarians of LatinIranian ethicists, Iranian logiciansJewish ethicistsJewish historiansJewish translators of the BibleLGBTQ mathematicians, LGBTQ philosophersLinguists from FranceMagic (supernatural)MaterialistsMembers of the International Workingmen's AssociationMembers of the Order of the Companions of HonourMusic theorists of the medieval Islamic worldOrdinary language philosophyPhilosophers of nihilismPhilosophical anthropologyPsychology in the medieval Islamic worldRussian anarchistsRussian male journalistsScholars of antisemitismSystematic theologiansThe New School facultyThomas AquinasThomas HobbesUniversity of Bonn alumniUniversity of Copenhagen alumniUniversity of Jena alumniUniversity of Tübingen alumniWriters about communism
Al-Ghazali
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Islamic scholar Al-Ghazali, one of the most significant and influential philosophers of the Middle Ages.
19 March 2015
Featuring: Peter Adamson, Carole Hillenbrand, Robert Gleave
Al-Kindi
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of Al-Kindi, often described as the first philosopher in the Arabic tradition.
28 June 2012
Featuring: Hugh Kennedy, James Montgomery, Amira Bennison
PhilosophyEpistemologistsPhilosophers of logicAristotelian philosophersArabic-language commentators on AristotleAlchemists of the medieval Islamic worldIslamic philosophersPhilosophers of educationPhilosophers of psychologyPhilosophers of art9th-century philosophersPhilosophers of mathematicsIntellectual historyOntologistsMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of religionAstronomers of the medieval Islamic worldPhilosophers of scienceMusic theorists of the medieval Islamic worldMetaphysics writersBergson 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 SciencesMetaphysiciansJewish philosophers20th-century French philosophersLycée Condorcet alumniPhilosophers of languageNobel laureates in LiteraturePhenomenologists19th-century French writersAcademic staff of the Collège de FranceWriters from Paris19th-century French philosophersFrench Nobel laureatesÉcole Normale Supérieure alumniFrench epistemologistsPhilosophers of mindHegel's Philosophy of History
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Hegel's ideas on history as the progress of the consciousness of freedom, and whether we enjoy more freedom now than those in past centuries.
26 May 2022
Featuring: Sally Sedgwick, Robert Stern, Stephen Houlgate
PhilosophyGerman philosophers of artGerman political philosophersUniversity of Tübingen alumniGerman LutheransTheoretical historians19th-century German philosophers19th-century mysticsGerman idealistsPhilosophers of law18th-century German writersDeaths from choleraPhilosophy writers18th-century German male writersGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionWriters about religion and scienceAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of Berlin18th-century German philosophers, 18th-century essayists19th-century German male writersGerman philosophers of language19th-century German essayistsBurials at the Dorotheenstadt CemeteryGerman male essayists18th-century German educators, 18th-century historians, 19th-century German educators, 19th-century historiansMetaphysiciansHeidelberg University alumniPantheistsEnlightenment philosophersGerman philosophers of historyGerman male non-fiction writersHobbes
Melvyn Bragg discusses Thomas Hobbes, the great 17th century philosopher who famously said that ungoverned man lived a life that was ‘solitary, poor, brutish and short’.
1 December 2005
Featuring: Quentin Skinner, David Wootton, Annabel Brett
PhilosophyEpistemologistsMaterialistsNatural law ethicistsAlumni of St John's College, Cambridge17th-century English philosophersTheorists on Western civilizationEnglish physicistsPhilosophers of lawSocial philosophersBritish philosophers of educationRhetoric theoristsBritish critics of ChristianityPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of language17th-century writers in LatinBritish critics of religionsCritics of the Catholic Church17th-century English writersPolitical realistsPhilosophers of mathematicsEnglish theologiansEmpiricistsOntologistsPhilosophers of mindMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of religionThomas HobbesEnglish political philosophersPhilosophers of sciencePhilosophers of history17th-century English male writersKierkegaard
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
PhilosophyEpistemologists19th-century essayistsChristian humanistsUniversity of Copenhagen alumniMetaphilosophersExistentialistsPhilosophers of deathPhilosophers of literatureExistentialist theologians19th-century male writersChristian poetsSocial philosophersPhilosophy writersAphoristsChristian ethicistsIrony theoristsPhilosophers of culturePeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendarPhilosophers of psychologyPhilosophers of artChristian radicalsOntologistsPhilosophers of lovePhilosophers of mindMetaphysicians19th-century pseudonymous writers19th-century deaths from tuberculosisPhilosophers of religionLévi-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 writersMarx
Melvyn Bragg discusses Karl Marx who once said that while other philosophers wanted to interpret the world, he wanted to change it. And he changed the world with his Communist Manifesto.
14 July 2005
Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Francis Wheen, Gareth Stedman Jones
PhilosophyEpistemologistsCritics of political economySocialist feministsHumboldt University of Berlin alumniMaterialistsUniversity of Jena alumniGerman political philosophersGerman anti-capitalists, German socialist feminists, Jewish communistsFellows of the Royal Society of Arts19th-century German philosophersTheorists on Western civilizationStateless peoplePamphleteersMarxist theoristsPhilosophers of lawCritics of work and the work ethicSocial philosophersPhilosophers of technologyMembers of the International Workingmen's AssociationPhilosophers of economicsWriters about religion and scienceWriters about globalizationUniversity of Bonn alumniPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of educationPhilosophical anthropologyGerman revolutionariesAnti-consumerists19th-century atheistsCritics of religionsAtheist philosophersCritics of JudaismEconomic historians, German sociologistsOntologistsPhilosophers of mindJewish socialistsMetaphysiciansGerman writers on atheismAnti-nationalistsGerman Marxist writersPhilosophers of religionBurials at Highgate CemeteryWriters about activism and social change19th-century German historiansPhilosophers of sciencePhilosophers of historyGerman male non-fiction writersAnti-imperialistsNietzsche'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
PhilosophyGerman philosophers of artDeaths from pneumonia in GermanyPhilosophers of nihilismMetaphilosophersExistentialistsPhilosophers of social science19th-century German philosophersTheorists on Western civilizationStateless peoplePhilosophers of literatureDeterministsPhilosophers of sexualityCritics of work and the work ethic19th-century German novelistsPhilosophy writersCritical theoristsLeipzig University alumniGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionWriters about religion and science19th-century German male writersAphoristsIrony theorists19th-century Prussian peopleUniversity of Bonn alumni19th-century German journalistsPhilosophers of psychologyGerman critics of ChristianityCritics of the Catholic Church19th-century German male musiciansAnti-consumeristsGerman philosophers of culturePhilosophers of timeCritics of religionsGerman male essayistsPeople associated with the University of BaselOntologistsMetaphysiciansGerman ethicists, German philosophers of educationAnti-nationalistsGerman epistemologistsPeople from the Province of SaxonyWriters about activism and social changeGerman military personnel of the Franco-Prussian War19th-century German non-fiction writersGerman philosophers of historyGerman male non-fiction writersGerman music criticsPopper
Melvyn Bragg discusses the philosopher Karl Popper, author of The Open Society and a seminal thinker about science.
8 February 2007
Featuring: John Worrall, Anthony O'Hear, Nancy Cartwright
PhilosophyBritish political philosophersEpistemologistsCambridge University Moral Sciences ClubForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesTheorists on Western civilizationBritish ethicistsPhilosophers of logicKnights BachelorLogiciansPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietySocial philosophersPhilosophers of technologyRationalistsAristotelian philosophersPhilosophers of economicsWriters about religion and scienceWriters about globalizationBritish philosophers of educationBritish social liberalsRecipients of the Austrian Decoration for Science and ArtBritish male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of mathematicsBritish historians of philosophyJewish agnosticsAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceCritics of religions20th-century British philosophers20th-century Austrian philosophers, Austrian agnostics, Austrian essayists, Austrian logicians, British agnostics, British logicians, British people of Austrian-Jewish descent, Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom, Writers from ViennaOntologistsPhilosophers of mindRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)MetaphysiciansJewish philosophersPolitical philosophersPhilosophers of religionBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsJewish ethicistsMembers of the Order of the Companions of HonourWriters about activism and social change20th-century British essayistsCritics of MarxismPhilosophers of historyFellows of the British AcademyMetaphysics writersBritish male essayistsRoger 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
HistoryMetaphysicians13th-century philosophersCatholic philosophersEnglish philosophersPhilosophers of languageEnglish translators, Medieval orientalistsNatural philosophersEnglish alchemistsGrammarians of LatinCatholic clergy scientists13th-century writers in LatinPhilosophers of scienceEmpiricistsPhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of literatureScholastic philosophersSartre
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
PhilosophyLycée Henri-IV alumni20th-century atheistsNobel laureates in LiteratureFrench sociologistsBlind writersFrench communistsFrench philosophers of artPhilosophers of nihilismFrench biographers, French ethicistsExistentialistsPhilosophers of social scienceFrench philosophers of sciencePhilosophers of deathÉcole Normale Supérieure alumniTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of literatureContinental philosophersPhilosophers of sexualityPhenomenologistsFree love advocatesFrench atheistsPhilosophy writersCritical theoristsBurials at Montparnasse CemeteryFrench Nobel laureates20th-century French novelistsFrench humanistsLegion of Honour refusals20th-century French dramatists and playwrightsFrench magazine foundersFrench anarchists, French anti-capitalists, French anti-fascistsFrench philosophers of historyAphoristsFrench philosophers of educationFrench political philosophersFrench epistemologistsFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesLycée Louis-le-Grand alumniFrench Marxists, French anti-war activistsFrench literary criticsLibertarian socialistsFrench philosophers of cultureFrench Resistance membersAtheist philosophersFrench scientists with disabilitiesOntologistsPhilosophers of mindMetaphysicians20th-century French philosophersWriters from ParisFrench socialistsScholars of antisemitismSpinoza
Melvyn Bragg discusses the philosopher Spinoza whose profound and complex ideas about God had him celebrated as an atheist in the 18th century.
3 May 2007
Featuring: Jonathan Rée, Sarah Hutton, John Cottingham
PhilosophyEpistemologistsMetaphilosophersDeterministsAge of EnlightenmentSocial philosophersPhilosophy writersRationalistsPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of education17th-century writers in LatinCritics of the Catholic ChurchPeople of the Age of EnlightenmentCritics of JudaismOntologistsPhilosophers of mindMetaphysiciansJewish philosophersJewish translators of the BiblePhilosophers of religionPantheistsEnlightenment philosophersBaruch SpinozaPhilosophers of sciencePhilosophers of historySt Thomas Aquinas
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss St Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic Church's foremost western philosopher and theologian.
17 September 2009
Featuring: Martin Palmer, John Haldane, Annabel Brett
PhilosophyMedieval Latin-language poets13th-century philosophersCritics of atheismNatural law ethicistsMagic (supernatural)Lutheran saintsThomas AquinasPhilosophers of lawDoctors of the Church13th-century writers in LatinAristotelian philosophersWriters about religion and scienceAngelic visionariesVirtue ethicistsChristian ethicistsCatholic philosophersSystematic theologiansChristian apologistsScholastic philosophersClassical theismMetaphysiciansDominican mysticsAnglican saintsUniversity of Paris alumniTolstoy
Melvyn Bragg discusses the life and times of the 19th century Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, whose novels such as War and Peace gave expression to the compelling moral and social questions of their day.
25 April 2002
Featuring: A. N. Wilson, Catriona Kelly, Sarah Hudspith
Epistemologists19th-century essayistsHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences19th-century non-fiction writers from the Russian EmpireGeorgistsPhilosophers of literatureChristian vegetariansRussian anarchistsMembers of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and ArtsSocial philosophers19th-century dramatists and playwrights from the Russian Empire, 19th-century short story writers from the Russian Empire, 20th-century Russian dramatists and playwrights, 20th-century Russian short story writers, Novelists from the Russian Empire, Philanthropists from the Russian Empire, Russian male dramatists and playwrights, Russian male novelists, Russian opinion journalists, Russian-language writersCorresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of education20th-century essayistsOntologistsPhilosophers of mindMetaphysiciansRussian male journalistsPolitical philosophersPhilosophers of religionAnarchist writersWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of historyChristian anarchists, Nonviolence advocates20th-century letter writersWittgenstein
Melvyn Bragg discusses how Ludwig Wittgenstein, one of the greatest philosophers of the modern age has influenced contemporary culture with his ideas on language.
4 December 2003
Featuring: Ray Monk, Barry Smith, Marie McGinn
PhilosophyEpistemologistsCambridge University Moral Sciences ClubMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of social scienceTheorists on Western civilizationWittgensteinian philosophersPhilosophers of logicAnalytic philosophersPeople with post-traumatic stress disorderBisexual male writersSocial philosophersPhilosophy writersOrdinary language philosophyFellows of Trinity College, CambridgePhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of languageLGBTQ mathematicians, LGBTQ philosophersPhilosophers of artBertrand Russell Professors of PhilosophyPhilosophers of mathematicsJewish agnostics20th-century British philosophersAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeLinguistic turnOntologistsPhilosophers of mindAustrian people of Jewish descent, Austro-Hungarian military personnel of World War I20th-century Austrian philosophers, Austrian agnostics, Austrian essayists, Austrian logicians, British agnostics, British logicians, British people of Austrian-Jewish descent, Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom, Writers from ViennaMetaphysiciansJewish philosophersBisexual military personnel20th-century British essayists20th-century British non-fiction writersBritish male essayists