Philosophers of culture
Samuel Benjamin Harris (born April 9, 1967) is an American philosopher, neuroscientist, author, and podcast host. His work touches on a range of topics, including rationality, religion, ethics, free will, neuroscience, meditation, psychedelics, philosophy of mind, politics, terrorism, and artificial intelligence.
16 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
CultureHistoryPhilosophyOntologistsSocial 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 religionPhilosophers of scienceEnlightenment philosophersEpistemologistsSonneteersAphoristsCritics of the Catholic ChurchEnglish essayistsWriters about religion and scienceAge of EnlightenmentAtheist philosophersEnglish male non-fiction writersGerman male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of educationPhilosophers of lawPhilosophers of social science18th-century philosophers19th-century German philosophers20th-century atheistsChristian humanistsForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesJewish philosophersMetaphilosophersPantheistsPhilosophers of economicsPhilosophers of mathematics17th-century English male writersAristotelian philosophersBritish male essayistsEnglish people of Scottish descentExistentialistsGerman political philosophersHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesLogiciansNatural law ethicistsPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of lovePhilosophers of psychologyPhilosophers of sexuality19th-century atheistsCatholic philosophersChristian radicalsCritics of work and the work ethicEmpiricistsEnglish non-fiction writersFrench political philosophersIslamic philosophersLiteracy and society theoristsPhilosophers of artPhilosophers of languagePolitical philosophers17th-century English writers19th-century pseudonymous writers20th-century essayistsAlumni of St John's College, CambridgeAnalytic philosophersAnti-consumeristsChristian ethicistsClassical liberalismCritics of religionsEnglish agnosticsFounders of religionsGerman philosophers of education, German ethicistsJewish agnosticsLiterary theoristsPeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendarPeople whose existence is disputedPhilosophers of technologySimple living advocatesTheoretical historiansVirtue ethicists17th-century writers in Latin18th-century English male writers19th-century English non-fiction writers19th-century English writers19th-century male writers20th-century German philosophersAlumni of Trinity College DublinAnti-nationalistsBritish critics of religionsBritish philosophers of educationChristian poetsEnglish feminists, English feminist writersEnglish socialistsHumboldt University of Berlin alumniIrony theoristsJewish socialistsMarxist theoristsMetaphysics writersPhilosophers of deathPhilosophers of warPolitical realistsRationalistsRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Rhetoric theoristsTrope theoristsWomen religious writersWriters about globalization17th-century English philosophers18th-century English writers18th-century classical composers20th-century British philosophersAlumni of Newnham College, CambridgeAmerican political philosophersBritish ethicistsBritish philosophers of mindBritish political philosophersClassical humanistsCritics of JudaismCritics of atheismDeist philosophersEnglish libertariansEnglish physicistsEnglish political philosophersEnglish republicansEuropean democratic socialistsFellows of the British AcademyGerman Marxist writersHeidelberg University alumniHistorians of the French RevolutionIrish AnglicansMembers of the American Academy of Arts and LettersMetaphor theoristsPhilosophers of pessimismScholars of feminist philosophyUtilitarians18th-century Anglo-Irish people, 18th-century Irish writers, 18th-century Irish male writers19th-century English essayists19th-century English philosophers19th-century German historians19th-century deaths from tuberculosis19th-century essayists19th-century non-fiction writers from the Russian Empire20th-century British essayists20th-century mystics20th-century translators5th-century BC historiansAlumni of Somerville College, OxfordAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeAmerican philosophers of educationAnarchist writersAnglican philosophersAnthologistsAutobiographersBisexual male writersBlind writersBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsBritish free speech activistsBritish historians of philosophyBritish philosophers of languageBritish socialistsBurials at Highgate CemeteryBurials at the Panthéon, ParisCambridge University Moral Sciences ClubConsequentialistsConservatismContributors to the Encyclopédie (1751–1772)Corresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesCritics of ChristianityCritics of deismDeterministsEnglish logiciansEnglish people of Irish descentEnglish political writersEnglish suffragistsExilliteratur writersFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeGeorgistsGerman Ashkenazi JewsGerman agnosticsGerman revolutionariesGerman women philosophersJames Tait Black Memorial Prize recipientsJerusalem Prize recipientsJewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United StatesKnights BachelorLecturersLinguistic turnMembers of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies, British MPs 1780–1784Members of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and ArtsMilitary theoristsPamphleteersPeople of the Age of EnlightenmentPeople with hypochondriasisPeople with post-traumatic stress disorderPhilosophers of timePresidents of the Aristotelian SocietySocialist feministsStateless peopleStreathamitesSurrealist writersWittgensteinian philosophersWriters from Dublin (city)12th-century Muslim theologians18th-century English philosophers18th-century Irish philosophers18th-century male musicians19th-century short story writers from the Russian Empire, 20th-century Russian short story writers, Russian opinion journalists, Philanthropists from the Russian Empire, Novelists from the Russian Empire, 20th-century Russian dramatists and playwrights, Russian-language writers, Russian male novelists, Russian male dramatists and playwrights, 19th-century dramatists and playwrights from the Russian Empire20th-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 letter writers6th-century BC Chinese writers, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Chinese political philosophers, 5th-century BC Chinese writers, Zhou dynasty writers6th-century BC religious leaders, 5th-century BC religious leadersAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceAnglo-ScotsAnti-imperialistsArabic-language commentators on AristotleAustro-Hungarian military personnel of World War I, Austrian people of Jewish descentBaruch SpinozaBertrand Russell Professors of PhilosophyBisexual military personnelBlind poetsBritish MPs 1774–1780British MPs 1790–1796, British MPs 1784–1790British atheistsBritish classical liberal economistsBritish critics of ChristianityBritish male non-fiction writersBritish parodistsBritish people of Irish descentBritish philosophers of logicBritish social liberalsBritish women philosophersChristian vegetariansClassical-period composersCommanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyCritics of MarxismCritics of political economyEconomic historians, German sociologistsEnglish autobiographersEnglish theologiansExistentialist theologiansFellows of the Royal Society of ArtsGerman Zionists, American Ashkenazi Jews, American agnostics, American ZionistsGerman anti-capitalists, Jewish communists, German socialist feministsGerman writers on atheismHaiku poetsHonorary Fellows of the Royal Society of EdinburghInfectious disease deaths in FranceIrish Freemasons, Irish people of English descent, Irish libertariansJewish ethicistsJewish existentialistsJewish translators of the BibleJourney to the West charactersLGBTQ mathematicians, LGBTQ philosophersMagic realism writersMaterialistsMembers of the International Workingmen's AssociationMembers of the Order of the Companions of HonourNaturalised citizens of the United Kingdom, Austrian agnostics, British people of Austrian-Jewish descent, Austrian essayists, Writers from Vienna, British logicians, 20th-century Austrian philosophers, Austrian logicians, British agnosticsNonviolence advocates, Christian anarchistsOrdinary language philosophyPeople from Córdoba, SpainPhilosophers from al-AndalusPhilosophers of identityPhilosophical anthropologyPlatonistsPrinceton University facultyProto-evolutionary biologistsRecipients of the Austrian Decoration for Science and ArtRectors of the University of GlasgowRectors of the University of St AndrewsRomantic philosophers, Converts to Roman Catholicism from CalvinismRussian anarchistsRussian male journalistsScholars of antisemitismSpanish-language poetsThe New School facultyThomas HobbesUK MPs 1865–1868University of Bonn alumniUniversity of Chicago faculty, Intellectual historiansUniversity of Copenhagen alumniUniversity of Jena alumniUniversity of Marburg alumniVoting theorists
Averroes
Melvyn Bragg discusses the philosopher Averroes who worked to reconcile the theology of Islam with the rationality of Aristotle, achieving both fame and infamy.
5 October 2006
Featuring: Amira Bennison, Peter Adamson, Anthony Kenny
PhilosophySocial philosophersOntologistsPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of scienceEpistemologistsAristotelian philosophersLogiciansPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of psychologyPolitical philosophersPhilosophers of languageIslamic philosophersCritics of atheismCritics of ChristianityCritics of deismPeople from Córdoba, Spain12th-century Muslim theologiansArabic-language commentators on AristotlePhilosophers from al-AndalusConfucius
Melvyn Bragg discusses the philosophy of Confucius, a body of ideas which, more than any other philosophy, has defined what it is to be Chinese.
1 November 2001
Featuring: Frances Wood, Tim Barrett, Tao Tao Liu
PhilosophySocial philosophersPhilosophers of cultureAphoristsPhilosophers of lawPhilosophers of educationFounders of religionsClassical humanists5th-century BC historians6th-century BC Chinese writers, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Chinese political philosophers, 5th-century BC Chinese writers, Zhou dynasty writers6th-century BC religious leaders, 5th-century BC religious leadersEdmund Burke
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the work of the philosopher, politician and writer Edmund Burke, whose views on revolution in America and France were hugely influential.
3 June 2010
Featuring: Karen O'Brien, Richard Bourke, John Keane
PhilosophySocial philosophersPhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of education18th-century philosophersPhilosophers of economicsNatural law ethicistsPolitical philosophersPhilosophers of artVirtue ethicistsClassical liberalism18th-century English male writersAlumni of Trinity College DublinHistorians of the French Revolution18th-century English writersEnglish libertariansIrish AnglicansBritish political philosophersEnglish people of Irish descentWriters from Dublin (city)StreathamitesAnglican philosophersConservatismCritics of deismRectors of the University of GlasgowBritish MPs 1774–178018th-century English philosophers18th-century Irish philosophersMembers of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies, British MPs 1780–178418th-century Anglo-Irish people, 18th-century Irish writers, 18th-century Irish male writersBritish MPs 1790–1796, British MPs 1784–1790Irish Freemasons, Irish people of English descent, Irish libertariansHannah 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 historiansHobbes
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
PhilosophySocial philosophersOntologistsTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of religionMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of scienceEpistemologistsCritics of the Catholic ChurchPhilosophers of lawPhilosophers of mathematics17th-century English male writersNatural law ethicistsPhilosophers of languageEmpiricistsAlumni of St John's College, Cambridge17th-century English writers17th-century writers in LatinBritish critics of religionsRhetoric theoristsPolitical realistsBritish philosophers of education17th-century English philosophersEnglish physicistsEnglish political philosophersBritish critics of ChristianityThomas HobbesEnglish theologiansMaterialistsIris 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 descentPlatonistsJorge Luis Borges
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life and work of the Argentinian master of the short story, Jorge Luis Borges.
4 January 2007
Featuring: Edwin Williamson, Efraín Kristal, Evelyn Fishburn
CulturePhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of cultureSonneteersAphoristsPhilosophers of mathematicsLiteracy and society theoristsPhilosophers of artLiterary theorists20th-century essayistsTrope theoristsMetaphysics writersMetaphor theoristsPhilosophers of pessimismSurrealist writersLecturers20th-century translatorsPhilosophers of timeJerusalem Prize recipients20th-century mysticsAnthologistsBlind writersCommanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanySpanish-language poetsHaiku poetsMagic realism writersPhilosophers of identityBlind poetsKierkegaard
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 alumniMarx
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
PhilosophySocial philosophersOntologistsTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of mindWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of religionMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of scienceEpistemologistsWriters about religion and scienceAtheist philosophersGerman male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of lawPhilosophers of education19th-century German philosophersPhilosophers of economicsGerman political philosophers19th-century atheistsCritics of work and the work ethicAnti-consumeristsPhilosophers of technologyCritics of religionsMarxist theoristsAnti-nationalistsJewish socialistsHumboldt University of Berlin alumniWriters about globalizationGerman Marxist writersCritics of JudaismStateless peoplePamphleteersGerman revolutionariesBurials at Highgate CemeterySocialist feminists19th-century German historiansMembers of the International Workingmen's AssociationUniversity of Bonn alumniGerman writers on atheismFellows of the Royal Society of ArtsUniversity of Jena alumniMaterialistsAnti-imperialistsCritics of political economyPhilosophical anthropologyGerman anti-capitalists, Jewish communists, German socialist feministsEconomic historians, German sociologistsMill
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 writersPopper
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
PhilosophySocial philosophersOntologistsTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of mindWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of religionMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of cultureEpistemologistsWriters about religion and sciencePhilosophers of mathematicsForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesJewish philosophersPhilosophers of economicsAristotelian philosophersLogiciansBritish male essayistsPhilosophers of logicPolitical philosophersJewish agnosticsPhilosophers of technologyCritics of religionsRationalistsRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Metaphysics writersWriters about globalizationBritish philosophers of educationFellows of the British Academy20th-century British philosophersBritish ethicistsBritish political philosophersCambridge University Moral Sciences ClubPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyBritish historians of philosophyKnights BachelorBritish consciousness researchers and theorists20th-century British essayistsRecipients of the Austrian Decoration for Science and ArtCritics of MarxismBritish male non-fiction writersJewish ethicistsBritish social liberalsMembers of the Order of the Companions of HonourAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceNaturalised citizens of the United Kingdom, Austrian agnostics, British people of Austrian-Jewish descent, Austrian essayists, Writers from Vienna, British logicians, 20th-century Austrian philosophers, Austrian logicians, British agnosticsRousseau on Education
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Rousseau's ideas on how to educate children so they retain their natural selves and are not corrupted by society.
10 October 2019
Featuring: Richard Whatmore, Caroline Warman, Denis McManus
PhilosophySocial philosophersPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of scienceEnlightenment philosophersAge of EnlightenmentPhilosophers of education18th-century philosophersPhilosophers of economicsCatholic philosophersFrench political philosophersPhilosophers of artSimple living advocatesDeist philosophers18th-century classical composersBurials at the Panthéon, ParisContributors to the Encyclopédie (1751–1772)AutobiographersPeople with hypochondriasisClassical-period composers18th-century male musiciansProto-evolutionary biologistsRomantic philosophers, Converts to Roman Catholicism from CalvinismSpinoza
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
PhilosophySocial philosophersOntologistsPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of religionMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of scienceEnlightenment philosophersEpistemologistsCritics of the Catholic ChurchAge of EnlightenmentPhilosophers of educationPantheistsJewish philosophersMetaphilosophersRationalists17th-century writers in LatinCritics of JudaismPeople of the Age of EnlightenmentDeterministsJewish translators of the BibleBaruch SpinozaSun Tzu and The Art of War
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Chinese military adviser Sun Tzu from the 6th century BC and the influential work of military strategy associated with him, The Art of War.
1 March 2018
Featuring: Hilde de Weerdt, Tim Barrett, Imre Galambos
HistoryPhilosophers of cultureAphoristsPhilosophers of educationPhilosophers of social scienceTheoretical historiansPeople whose existence is disputedPhilosophers of warPolitical realistsMilitary theoristsJourney to the West characters6th-century BC Chinese writers, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Chinese political philosophers, 5th-century BC Chinese writers, Zhou dynasty writersTolstoy
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
CultureSocial philosophersOntologistsPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of religionMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of cultureEpistemologistsPhilosophers of educationHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesPolitical philosophers20th-century essayistsMembers of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts19th-century essayists19th-century non-fiction writers from the Russian EmpireAnarchist writersCorresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesGeorgistsRussian anarchistsChristian vegetarians20th-century letter writersRussian male journalists19th-century short story writers from the Russian Empire, 20th-century Russian short story writers, Russian opinion journalists, Philanthropists from the Russian Empire, Novelists from the Russian Empire, 20th-century Russian dramatists and playwrights, Russian-language writers, Russian male novelists, Russian male dramatists and playwrights, 19th-century dramatists and playwrights from the Russian EmpireNonviolence advocates, Christian anarchistsWittgenstein
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
PhilosophySocial philosophersOntologistsPhilosophy writersTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of mindMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of cultureEpistemologistsPhilosophers of social sciencePhilosophers of mathematicsJewish philosophersMetaphilosophersBritish male essayistsPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of artPhilosophers of languageAnalytic philosophersJewish agnostics20th-century British philosophersWittgensteinian philosophersCambridge University Moral Sciences ClubPeople with post-traumatic stress disorderAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeLinguistic turn20th-century British essayistsBisexual male writersBertrand Russell Professors of Philosophy20th-century British non-fiction writersOrdinary language philosophyBisexual military personnelAustro-Hungarian military personnel of World War I, Austrian people of Jewish descentLGBTQ mathematicians, LGBTQ philosophersNaturalised citizens of the United Kingdom, Austrian agnostics, British people of Austrian-Jewish descent, Austrian essayists, Writers from Vienna, British logicians, 20th-century Austrian philosophers, Austrian logicians, British agnostics