Philosophers of love
Socrates (Greek: Σωκράτης; c. 470–399 BC) was a Greek philosopher from Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and among the first moral philosophers of the ethical tradition of thought. An enigmatic figure, Socrates authored no texts and is known mainly through the posthumous accounts of classical writers, particularly his students Plato and Xenophon.
8 episodes
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PhilosophyReligionFellows of the Royal SocietyOntologistsSocial philosophersPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of historyWriters about activism and social changeMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of religionEpistemologistsAphoristsCritics of the Catholic ChurchEnglish essayistsEnglish male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of educationWriters about religion and scienceAtheist philosophersGerman male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of law20th-century atheistsNobel laureates in LiteraturePhilosophers of social science19th-century German male writers19th-century German philosophersChristian humanistsExistentialistsMetaphilosophersPantheistsPhilosophers of economicsPhilosophers of mathematicsPhilosophers of psychologyAristotelian philosophersEnglish people of Scottish descentGerman male essayistsGerman philosophers of historyGerman political philosophersHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesLogiciansNatural law ethicistsNatural philosophersPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of sexuality19th-century atheistsAmerican male non-fiction writersChristian radicalsCritics of work and the work ethicEmpiricistsGerman philosophers of artGerman philosophers of culturePeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendarPhilosophers of art19th-century German essayists19th-century pseudonymous writersAnalytic philosophersAnti-consumeristsChristian ethicistsCritics of religionsEnglish agnosticsEnglish atheistsFounders of religionsGerman ethicists, German philosophers of educationPhilosophers of technologySimple living advocatesVirtue ethicists19th-century American poets19th-century male writersAncient Greek philosophers of mindAnti-nationalistsBritish critics of religionsBritish philosophers of educationChristian poetsEnglish Nobel laureatesEnglish socialistsExecuted philosophersGerman philosophers of languageGerman philosophers of scienceIrony theoristsMembers of the Order of MeritMetaphysics writersPhenomenologistsPhilosophers of deathRationalistsRhetoric theoristsUniversity of Göttingen alumniWriters about globalization19th-century German writers19th-century deaths from tuberculosis20th-century English philosophersAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeAmerican male essayists, American male poetsAmerican political philosophersAncient Greek political philosophersBritish ethicistsBritish philosophers of mindBritish political philosophersClassical humanistsClassical theismCritical theoristsCritics of JudaismEnglish people of Welsh descentEnglish political philosophersEuropean democratic socialistsFellows of the British AcademyFreethought writersGerman critics of ChristianityGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionPhilosophers of pessimismUtilitarians19th-century American essayists19th-century American philosophers19th-century English essayists19th-century English philosophers19th-century essayists20th-century English mathematicians5th-century BC Athenians5th-century BC Greek philosophersAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of BerlinAlumni of Somerville College, OxfordAmerican lecturersAmerican philosophers of cultureAnarchist writersAncient Athenian philosophersAncient Greek epistemologists, Ancient Greek ethicistsAncient Greek metaphysiciansAncient Greek physicistsAttic Greek writersBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsBritish free speech activistsBritish historians of philosophyBritish philosophers of languageConsequentialistsEnglish logiciansEnglish political writersEnglish women philosophersFellows of Somerville College, OxfordFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeGeorgistsGerman epistemologistsGerman idealistsGerman monarchistsIdealistsJerusalem Prize recipientsLinguistic turnMiracle workersPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietySocratesWittgensteinian philosophers19th-century American non-fiction writers19th-century English mathematicians470s BC birthsAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceAmerican philosophers of mind, American philosophers of scienceAmerican spiritual writersAncient Greek logiciansAncient Greek slaves and freedmenAnti-natalistsAsceticsBritish atheism activistsBritish atheistsBritish critics of ChristianityBritish philosophers of culture, English pacifistsBritish philosophers of logicBritish philosophers of religionEnglish anti-fascistsEnglish humanistsEnglish prisoners and detaineesEnglish scepticsEpigrammatists of the Greek AnthologyExistentialist theologiansForced suicidesFree love advocatesGerman eugenicistsGerman logicians, Kantian philosophersGerman philologistsGerman writers on atheismIntellectual historians, University of Chicago facultyJourney to the West charactersMoral realistsPeople from MonmouthshirePhilosophers from MassachusettsPlatonismPupils of SocratesSecular humanistsSet theoristsSupernatural beings identified with Christian saintsUnderground Railroad peopleUniversal basic income writersUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyUniversity of Copenhagen 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 centuryEconomicsLanguageMathematicsKierkegaard
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
PhilosophyChristian humanistsPhilosophers of cultureExistentialist theologiansPhilosophers of mindMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of lovePhilosophers of religion19th-century male writers19th-century pseudonymous writersChristian poetsEpistemologistsChristian ethicistsPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of artChristian radicalsPhilosophers of psychologyIrony theorists19th-century essayistsMetaphysiciansPeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendarUniversity of Copenhagen alumni19th-century deaths from tuberculosisPhilosophers of deathOntologistsSocial philosophersAphoristsExistentialistsPhilosophers of literature19th centuryMedicinePsychologyTheologyPhilippa Foot
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the most notable philosophers of the 20th century, who explored why it mattered to be moral and why humans needed virtues to flourish.
16 May 2024
Featuring: Anil Gomes, Sophie Grace Chappell, Rachael Wiseman
PhilosophyAnalytic philosophersMoral realistsAtheist philosophersUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyFellows of Somerville College, OxfordVirtue ethicists20th-century English philosophersWittgensteinian philosophersFellows of the British AcademyBritish atheistsEnglish women philosophersAlumni of Somerville College, OxfordAristotelian philosophersPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of loveEnglish atheists20th centuryPlato's Gorgias
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss arguably the most personal of Plato's dialogues in which he examines the values that led to the execution of his mentor Socrates by drinking hemlock
25 November 2021
Featuring: Angie Hobbs, Frisbee Sheffield, Fiona Leigh
PhilosophyMoral realistsAncient Greek metaphysiciansAncient Greek political philosophersPhilosophers of loveAncient Greek epistemologists, Ancient Greek ethicistsClassical theismAncient Greek physicistsNatural philosophersAncient Greek slaves and freedmenEpigrammatists of the Greek AnthologyPhilosophers of educationAttic Greek writersPupils of SocratesAncient Greek philosophers of mindAncient Greek logiciansTheorists on Western civilizationRationalistsLogiciansIdealistsPlatonismPhilosophers of deathNatural law ethicistsAncient Athenian philosophersOntologistsGreeceMedicineSchopenhauer
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the pessimistic philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer and his extraordinary influence.
29 October 2009
Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Beatrice Han-Pile, Christopher Janaway
PhilosophyGerman writers on atheismGerman logicians, Kantian philosophersUniversity of Göttingen alumniGerman philosophers of languageGerman philologistsMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of loveGerman philosophers of historyGerman male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of pessimismPhilosophers of logicGerman critics of ChristianityGerman idealistsSimple living advocatesAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of Berlin19th-century atheistsPhilosophy writersGerman political philosophersPhilosophers of psychologyCritics of religionsCritical theoristsGerman eugenicistsGerman philosophers of culture19th-century German writersAnti-natalistsGerman monarchistsGerman ethicists, German philosophers of educationGerman philosophers of science19th-century German philosophersTheorists on Western civilizationGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionCritics of JudaismGerman epistemologistsLogiciansAtheist philosophers19th-century German essayists19th-century German male writersGerman male essayistsOntologistsPhenomenologistsAphoristsPhilosophers of literatureGerman philosophers of art19th centuryGermanyLanguagePsychologySocrates
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the iconic Greek philosopher Socrates. He is the founder of Western philosophy, he was funny, irritating and rude but left not a single word in his own hand.
27 September 2007
Featuring: Angie Hobbs, David Sedley, Paul Millett
PhilosophyCritics of religionsClassical theismAncient Greek philosophers of mindPhilosophers of love5th-century BC Greek philosophersForced suicidesAncient Athenian philosophersSocratesAncient Greek political philosophers5th-century BC Athenians470s BC birthsExecuted philosophersIrony theoristsPhilosophers of educationAncient Greek epistemologists, Ancient Greek ethicists5th century BCGreeceThe Buddha
Melvyn Bragg discusses the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the originator of Buddhism, and examines why his teachings have now become one of the fastest growing religions of the Western world.
14 March 2002
Featuring: Peter Harvey, Kate Crosby, Mahinda Deegalle
Thoreau and the American Idyll
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the American 19th century writer and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau
15 January 2009
Featuring: Kathleen Burk, Tim Morris, Stephen Fender
PhilosophyHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesAmerican philosophers of cultureAmerican male essayists, American male poetsAmerican lecturersUnderground Railroad peoplePhilosophers of loveAnarchist writersAmerican male non-fiction writersCritics of work and the work ethicAmerican spiritual writersSimple living advocatesAmerican political philosophers19th-century American poets19th-century American philosophersAnti-consumerists19th-century American non-fiction writersAmerican philosophers of mind, American philosophers of sciencePhilosophers of historyPhilosophers from Massachusetts19th-century deaths from tuberculosis19th-century American essayistsPantheists19th centuryAmerica