Philosophers of law
Philosophy of law is a branch of philosophy that examines the nature of law and law's relationship to other systems of norms, especially ethics and political philosophy. It asks questions like "What is law?", "What are the criteria for legal validity?", and "What is the relationship between law and morality?" Philosophy of law and jurisprudence are often used interchangeably, though jurisprudence sometimes encompasses forms of reasoning that fit into economics or sociology.Philosophy of law can be sub-divided into analytical jurisprudence, and normative jurisprudence.
11 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
HistoryPhilosophyFellows of the Royal SocietyAnglican saintsOntologistsSocial 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 culturePhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of scienceEnlightenment philosophersEpistemologistsAge of EnlightenmentAphoristsCritics of the Catholic ChurchEnglish essayistsEnglish male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of educationWriters about religion and scienceAtheist philosophersGerman male non-fiction writers17th-century English male writers20th-century atheistsNobel laureates in LiteraturePhilosophers of social science18th-century philosophers19th-century German male writers19th-century German philosophersExistentialistsGerman LutheransMetaphilosophersPantheistsPhilosophers of economicsPhilosophers of mathematicsUniversity of Paris alumniWriters from ParisAristotelian philosophersEnglish people of Scottish descentFrench Roman CatholicsFrench political philosophersGerman male essayistsGerman philosophers of historyGerman political philosophersLogiciansLutheran saintsNatural law ethicistsNatural philosophersPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of lovePhilosophers of sexuality19th-century atheistsCatholic philosophersCritics of work and the work ethicEmpiricistsGerman philosophers of artGerman philosophers of culturePhilosophers of languagePolitical philosophers17th-century English writers17th-century writers in Latin19th-century German essayistsAlumni of St John's College, CambridgeAnalytic philosophersAnti-consumeristsChristian ethicistsCritics of religionsEnglish agnosticsFounders of religionsGerman ethicists, German philosophers of educationJewish agnosticsMarxist theoristsMembers of the Académie FrançaisePhilosophers of technologyTheoretical historiansVirtue ethicists18th-century German male writers20th-century German philosophersAncient Roman adopteesAnti-nationalistsBritish critics of religionsBritish philosophers of educationEnglish Nobel laureatesEnglish socialistsFrench male non-fiction writersFrench philosophers of cultureFrench philosophers of historyGerman philosophers of languageGerman philosophers of scienceHeidelberg University alumniHumboldt University of Berlin alumniJewish socialistsMembers of the Order of MeritMembers of the Prussian Academy of SciencesMetaphysics writersPhilosophers of warPolitical realistsRationalistsRhetoric theoristsScholastic philosophersWomen religious writersWriters about globalization17th-century English philosophers18th-century German philosophers, 18th-century essayists19th-century French philosophers19th-century German non-fiction writers20th-century English philosophersAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeAmerican political philosophersAncient Roman philhellenesAngelic visionariesBritish ethicistsBritish philosophers of mindBritish political philosophersClassical humanistsClassical theismCritics of JudaismCritics of atheismEnglish people of Welsh descentEnglish physicistsEnglish political philosophersEuropean democratic socialistsExilliteratur writersFreethought writersFrench sociologistsGerman Marxist writersGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionHistorians of the French RevolutionMedieval Latin-language poetsMembers of the American Academy of Arts and LettersRoman pharaohsUtilitarians13th-century philosophers13th-century writers in Latin18th-century French male writers18th-century French philosophers18th-century German educators, 18th-century historians, 19th-century German educators, 19th-century historians18th-century German writers19th-century English essayists19th-century English philosophers19th-century German historians19th-century mystics20th-century English mathematicians5th-century BC historiansAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of BerlinAmerican philosophers of educationBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsBritish free speech activistsBritish historians of philosophyBritish philosophers of languageBurials at Highgate CemeteryConsequentialistsContributors to the Encyclopédie (1751–1772)Deified Roman emperorsDoctors of the ChurchEnglish logiciansEnglish political writersFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeGeorgistsGerman Ashkenazi JewsGerman agnosticsGerman epistemologistsGerman idealistsGerman nationalistsGerman revolutionariesGerman women philosophersHumor researchersIdealistsJerusalem Prize recipientsJewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United StatesKnights of the Legion of HonourLecturersLinguistic turnPamphleteersPeople of the Age of EnlightenmentPhilosophers of Roman ItalyPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietySocialist feministsStateless people19th-century English mathematicians19th-century French male writers19th-century Prussian people20th-century American essayists20th-century American philosophers20th-century American women writers20th-century German non-fiction writers20th-century German women writers5th-century BC Chinese writers, 6th-century BC Chinese writers, Chinese political philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Zhou dynasty writers5th-century BC religious leaders, 6th-century BC religious leadersAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceAeliiAmerican Ashkenazi Jews, American Zionists, American agnostics, German ZionistsAnti-imperialistsAugurs of the Roman EmpireBritish atheism activistsBritish critics of ChristianityBritish philosophers of culture, English pacifistsBritish philosophers of logicBritish philosophers of religionBurials at the Dorotheenstadt CemeteryChristian apologistsCritics of political economyDeaths from choleraDominican mysticsEconomic historians, German sociologistsEconomic sociologistsEnglish anti-fascistsEnglish humanistsEnglish prisoners and detaineesEnglish scepticsEnglish theologiansFellows of the Royal Society of ArtsFree love advocatesFrench political scientistsFrench political writersGerman anti-capitalists, German socialist feminists, Jewish communistsGerman logicians, Kantian philosophersGerman writers on atheismIntellectual historians, University of Chicago facultyJewish existentialistsKantianismMagic (supernatural)MaterialistsMembers of the International Workingmen's AssociationNerva–Antonine dynastyPeople from MonmouthshirePhilosophical anthropologyPrinceton University facultyRoman-era Stoic philosophersScholars of antisemitismSecular humanistsSet theoristsSystematic theologiansThe New School facultyThomas AquinasThomas HobbesUniversal basic income writersUniversity of Bonn alumniUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyUniversity of Jena alumniUniversity of Marburg alumniUniversity of Tübingen alumniWriters about communism
Bertrand Russell
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the influential 20th-century British thinker Bertrand Russell, widely regarded as one of the founders of Analytical philosophy.
6 December 2012
Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Mike Beaney, Hilary Greaves
PhilosophyBritish free speech activistsBritish historians of philosophyEnglish logiciansUniversal basic income writersEuropean democratic socialistsMetaphysics writersMembers of the Order of MeritEnglish anti-fascists19th-century atheistsBritish philosophers of educationEmpiricistsEnglish humanistsFree love advocatesGeorgistsBritish critics of religionsEnglish Nobel laureatesNobel laureates in LiteratureTheorists on Western civilizationBritish political philosophersPhilosophers of social scienceEnglish people of Scottish descentEnglish socialistsEnglish male non-fiction writersConsequentialistsFellows of the Royal SocietyLinguistic turnPhilosophers of sexualityRhetoric theoristsMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of loveEnglish political philosophersCritics of work and the work ethicEnglish people of Welsh descent20th-century atheists20th-century English mathematiciansPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyUtilitariansBritish atheism activistsWriters about communismLogicians19th-century English essayistsSecular humanistsPhilosophers of economicsIntellectual historians, University of Chicago facultyOntologistsEnglish scepticsFreethought writersCritics of the Catholic Church19th-century English philosophersBritish critics of ChristianityPeople from MonmouthshireAristotelian philosophersJerusalem Prize recipientsPhilosophers of lawEnglish prisoners and detaineesBritish philosophers of languageSet theoristsPhilosophers of technologyBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsPhilosophers of mathematicsBritish philosophers of mind20th-century English philosophers19th-century English mathematiciansAnti-nationalistsPhilosophers of literatureEnglish agnosticsBritish philosophers of culture, English pacifistsWriters about globalizationWriters about religion and scienceFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeEnglish essayistsAnalytic philosophersAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceWriters about activism and social changeAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgePhilosophers of historyBritish philosophers of religionBritish ethicistsAtheist philosophersUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyBritish philosophers of logicEnglish political writers19th century20th centuryEconomicsLanguageMathematicsConfucius
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
PhilosophyFounders of religions5th-century BC Chinese writers, 6th-century BC Chinese writers, Chinese political philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Zhou dynasty writersPhilosophers of lawClassical humanists5th-century BC historiansPhilosophers of cultureSocial philosophersAphorists5th-century BC religious leaders, 6th-century BC religious leadersPhilosophers of education5th century BC6th century BCChinaHannah 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
PhilosophyScholars of antisemitismAmerican philosophers of educationThe New School facultyPhilosophers of cultureExilliteratur writersMembers of the American Academy of Arts and LettersPrinceton University facultyGerman women philosophersGerman agnostics20th-century German women writers20th-century German non-fiction writersJewish existentialistsGerman Ashkenazi JewsAmerican political philosophersPhilosophy writers20th-century American essayistsGerman political philosophersPhilosophers of lawPolitical philosophersJewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United StatesPhilosophers of technologyGerman ethicists, German philosophers of educationAmerican Ashkenazi Jews, American Zionists, American agnostics, German ZionistsFellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences20th-century German philosophersPhilosophers of sciencePhilosophers of history20th-century American women writersHeidelberg University alumni20th-century American philosophersJewish agnosticsUniversity of Marburg alumniSocial philosophersWomen religious writersIntellectual historians, University of Chicago facultyExistentialists20th centuryAmericaGermanyHegel'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
PhilosophyDeaths from cholera18th-century German male writersBurials at the Dorotheenstadt CemeteryGerman philosophers of languageGerman LutheransWriters about religion and scienceGerman philosophers of historyGerman male non-fiction writersGerman idealistsAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of BerlinUniversity of Tübingen alumniPhilosophy writers18th-century German writersGerman political philosophersPhilosophers of lawMetaphysicians18th-century German philosophers, 18th-century essayists19th-century German philosophersTheoretical historiansGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionHeidelberg University alumni19th-century German essayists19th-century German male writersGerman male essayistsEnlightenment philosophers18th-century German educators, 18th-century historians, 19th-century German educators, 19th-century historiansPantheists19th-century mysticsGerman philosophers of art18th century19th centuryGermanyLanguageMedicineHobbes
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
PhilosophyCritics of the Catholic ChurchPhilosophers of culture17th-century writers in LatinPhilosophers of mind17th-century English writersRhetoric theoristsPhilosophers of religionMaterialistsEnglish political philosophersPhilosophers of languageBritish critics of ChristianityPolitical realistsEpistemologistsBritish philosophers of educationPhilosophers of lawEmpiricistsMetaphysiciansBritish critics of religionsPhilosophers of mathematics17th-century English male writersAlumni of St John's College, CambridgeTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of sciencePhilosophers of historyThomas HobbesSocial philosophersNatural law ethicistsEnglish theologians17th-century English philosophersEnglish physicistsOntologists17th centuryLanguageMathematicsMedicineTheologyKant's Copernican Revolution
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Kant's ideas on how the world depends on us, on the limits of human knowledge and why we are bound to ask questions we cannot answer.
3 June 2021
Featuring: Fiona Hughes, Anil Gomes, John Callanan
Philosophy18th-century German male writersGerman logicians, Kantian philosophers19th-century German non-fiction writersHumor researchersGerman LutheransPhilosophers of sexualityWriters about religion and scienceGerman nationalistsMetaphilosophersGerman philosophers of historyGerman male non-fiction writers19th-century Prussian peoplePhilosophers of logicGerman idealistsGerman agnostics18th-century philosophersNatural philosophersWriters about activism and social changeMembers of the Prussian Academy of SciencesPhilosophy writers18th-century German writersGerman political philosophersKantianismPhilosophers of lawGerman philosophers of culture18th-century German philosophers, 18th-century essayistsLecturersGerman ethicists, German philosophers of educationGerman philosophers of science19th-century German philosophersTheoretical historiansTheorists on Western civilizationRationalistsGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionGerman epistemologistsLogiciansIdealistsPhilosophers of social science19th-century German essayists19th-century German male writersGerman male essayistsEnlightenment philosophersOntologistsNatural law ethicistsPhilosophers of warPeople of the Age of EnlightenmentAge of EnlightenmentPhilosophers of literatureGerman philosophers of art18th century19th centuryGermanyMarcus Aurelius
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life, meditations and reputation of this stoic and philosopher king, who Machiavelli called the last of the 'Five Good Emperors'.
25 February 2021
Featuring: Simon Goldhill, Angie Hobbs, Catharine Edwards
HistoryAncient Roman philhellenesRoman-era Stoic philosophersAncient Roman adopteesPhilosophers of lawDeified Roman emperorsPolitical philosophersAeliiPhilosophers of mindSocial philosophersAugurs of the Roman EmpireNerva–Antonine dynastyRoman pharaohsPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of Roman ItalyRomeMarx
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
PhilosophyGerman writers on atheismPhilosophers of cultureUniversity of Bonn alumniPhilosophers of mindCritics of political economyWriters about globalizationWriters about religion and sciencePhilosophers of religionSocialist feministsMaterialistsGerman male non-fiction writersCritics of work and the work ethicEconomic historians, German sociologistsFellows of the Royal Society of ArtsPhilosophical anthropologyGerman Marxist writersMarxist theoristsWriters about activism and social change19th-century atheistsEpistemologistsPhilosophers of educationGerman political philosophersStateless peopleCritics of religionsPhilosophers of lawAnti-consumeristsMetaphysiciansJewish socialistsPhilosophers of technologyHumboldt University of Berlin alumniUniversity of Jena alumniAnti-imperialists19th-century German philosophersTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of sciencePhilosophers of historyCritics of JudaismBurials at Highgate Cemetery19th-century German historiansAtheist philosophersMembers of the International Workingmen's AssociationPhilosophers of economicsGerman anti-capitalists, German socialist feminists, Jewish communistsSocial philosophersPamphleteersGerman revolutionariesAnti-nationalistsOntologists19th centuryEconomicsGermanyMedicineMontesquieu
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas of the French political philosopher (1689-1755) whose work on liberty and republicanism, banned at home, influenced the US constitution.
14 June 2018
Featuring: Richard Bourke, Rachel Hammersley, Richard Whatmore
HistoryFrench Roman CatholicsMembers of the Académie FrançaisePhilosophers of lawEnlightenment philosophersMembers of the Prussian Academy of Sciences18th-century French philosophersFrench philosophers of historyContributors to the Encyclopédie (1751–1772)18th-century French male writersFrench political writersFrench political philosophersFellows of the Royal Society17th century18th centuryFranceSt 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
PhilosophyWriters about religion and scienceVirtue ethicistsScholastic philosophersUniversity of Paris alumniThomas AquinasClassical theismCritics of atheismDominican mysticsMedieval Latin-language poetsAristotelian philosophersChristian ethicistsLutheran saintsPhilosophers of lawAnglican saintsMetaphysicians13th-century writers in LatinAngelic visionariesDoctors of the ChurchMagic (supernatural)Catholic philosophersNatural law ethicistsChristian apologists13th-century philosophersSystematic theologians13th centuryLanguageMedicineTheologyTocqueville: Democracy in America
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Alexis de Tocqueville and his study of the American democratic system, written as an example to France of how democracy might develop there.
22 March 2018
Featuring: Robert Gildea, Susan-Mary Grant, Jeremy Jennings
HistoryWriters from ParisFrench Roman CatholicsMembers of the Académie FrançaiseFrench sociologistsFrench male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of lawHistorians of the French Revolution19th-century French male writersKnights of the Legion of Honour19th-century French philosophersEconomic sociologistsNatural law ethicistsFrench philosophers of historyFrench political writersFrench political scientistsFrench political philosophersFrench philosophers of cultureUniversity of Paris alumni19th centuryAmericaFrance