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
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
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 essayistsWriters about religion and scienceAtheist philosophersEnglish male non-fiction writersGerman male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of educationPhilosophers of lawPhilosophers of social science19th-century German male writers19th-century German philosophers20th-century atheistsChristian humanistsMetaphilosophersNobel laureates in LiteraturePantheistsPhilosophers of economicsPhilosophers of mathematicsAristotelian philosophersEnglish people of Scottish descentExistentialistsGerman male essayistsGerman philosophers of historyGerman political philosophersHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesLogiciansNatural law ethicistsNatural philosophersPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of psychologyPhilosophers of sexuality19th-century atheistsAmerican male non-fiction writersChristian radicalsCritics of work and the work ethicEmpiricistsGerman philosophers of artGerman philosophers of culturePhilosophers of art19th-century German essayists19th-century pseudonymous writersAnalytic philosophersAnti-consumeristsChristian ethicistsCritics of religionsEnglish agnosticsFounders of religionsGerman philosophers of education, German ethicistsPeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendarPhilosophers 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 atheistsEnglish socialistsExecuted philosophersGerman philosophers of languageGerman philosophers of scienceIrony theoristsMembers of the Order of MeritMetaphysics writersPhilosophers of deathRationalistsRhetoric theoristsUniversity of Göttingen alumniWriters about globalization19th-century German writers20th-century English philosophersAmerican 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 religionPhenomenologistsPhilosophers of pessimismUtilitarians19th-century American essayists19th-century American philosophers19th-century English essayists19th-century English philosophers19th-century deaths from tuberculosis19th-century essayists20th-century English mathematicians5th-century BC Athenians5th-century BC Greek philosophersAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of BerlinAlumni of Somerville College, OxfordAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeAmerican lecturersAmerican philosophers of cultureAnarchist writersAncient Athenian philosophersAncient Greek ethicists, Ancient Greek epistemologistsAncient 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 idealistsIdealistsJerusalem Prize recipientsLinguistic turnMiracle workersPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyWittgensteinian philosophers19th-century American non-fiction writers19th-century English mathematicians470s BC birthsAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceAmerican philosophers of science, American philosophers of mindAmerican spiritual writersAncient Greek logiciansAncient Greek slaves and freedmenAnti-natalistsAsceticsBritish atheism activistsBritish atheistsBritish critics of ChristianityBritish philosophers of logicBritish philosophers of religionEnglish anti-fascistsEnglish humanistsEnglish pacifists, British philosophers of cultureEnglish prisoners and detaineesEnglish scepticsEpigrammatists of the Greek AnthologyExistentialist theologiansForced suicidesFree love advocatesGerman eugenicistsGerman logicians, Kantian philosophersGerman monarchistsGerman philologistsGerman writers on atheismJourney to the West charactersMoral realistsPeople from MonmouthshirePhilosophers from MassachusettsPlatonismPupils of SocratesSecular humanistsSet theoristsSocratesUnderground Railroad peopleUniversal basic income writersUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyUniversity of Chicago faculty, Intellectual historiansUniversity 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
PhilosophyFellows of the Royal SocietyOntologistsPhilosophers of literatureTheorists on Western civilizationWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of historyCritics of the Catholic ChurchWriters about religion and scienceEnglish essayistsAtheist philosophersEnglish male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of lawPhilosophers of social sciencePhilosophers of mathematics20th-century atheistsMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of economicsNobel laureates in LiteratureAristotelian philosophersPhilosophers of loveLogiciansPhilosophers of sexualityEnglish people of Scottish descent19th-century atheistsEmpiricistsCritics of work and the work ethicAnalytic philosophersEnglish agnosticsPhilosophers of technologyAnti-nationalistsMembers of the Order of MeritBritish critics of religionsRhetoric theoristsEnglish Nobel laureatesEnglish socialistsMetaphysics writersWriters about globalizationBritish philosophers of education20th-century English philosophersEuropean democratic socialistsBritish philosophers of mindEnglish people of Welsh descentBritish ethicistsUtilitariansEnglish political philosophersFreethought writersBritish political philosophersBritish philosophers of languagePresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyBritish historians of philosophy20th-century English mathematiciansEnglish logicians19th-century English philosophersJerusalem Prize recipientsGeorgists19th-century English essayistsAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsConsequentialistsEnglish political writersFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeBritish free speech activistsLinguistic turnUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultySet theoristsEnglish humanistsBritish atheism activistsUniversal basic income writersEnglish anti-fascistsWriters about communismPeople from Monmouthshire19th-century English mathematiciansBritish critics of ChristianityEnglish prisoners and detaineesEnglish scepticsFree love advocatesBritish philosophers of logicBritish philosophers of religionSecular humanistsUniversity of Chicago faculty, Intellectual historiansAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceEnglish pacifists, British philosophers of cultureKierkegaard
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 alumniPhilippa 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
PhilosophyPhilosophy writersAtheist philosophersAristotelian philosophersPhilosophers of loveAnalytic philosophersVirtue ethicistsEnglish atheists20th-century English philosophersFellows of the British AcademyAlumni of Somerville College, OxfordEnglish women philosophersFellows of Somerville College, OxfordWittgensteinian philosophersBritish atheistsMoral realistsUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyPlato'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
PhilosophyOntologistsTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of educationPhilosophers of loveLogiciansNatural law ethicistsNatural philosophersRationalistsAncient Greek philosophers of mindPhilosophers of deathAncient Greek political philosophersClassical theismAncient Athenian philosophersAncient Greek metaphysiciansAncient Greek physicistsAttic Greek writersIdealistsMoral realistsPlatonismAncient Greek logiciansAncient Greek slaves and freedmenEpigrammatists of the Greek AnthologyPupils of SocratesAncient Greek ethicists, Ancient Greek epistemologistsSchopenhauer
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
PhilosophyOntologistsPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of literatureTheorists on Western civilizationAphoristsAtheist philosophersGerman male non-fiction writers19th-century German male writers19th-century German philosophersMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of loveGerman male essayistsGerman political philosophersGerman philosophers of historyLogiciansPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of psychologyGerman philosophers of art19th-century atheistsGerman philosophers of culture19th-century German essayistsSimple living advocatesCritics of religionsGerman philosophers of languageGerman philosophers of scienceUniversity of Göttingen alumniPhenomenologistsPhilosophers of pessimism19th-century German writersCritical theoristsGerman critics of ChristianityCritics of JudaismAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of BerlinGerman idealistsGerman epistemologistsAnti-natalistsGerman writers on atheismGerman eugenicistsGerman monarchistsGerman philologistsGerman philosophers of education, German ethicistsGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionGerman logicians, Kantian philosophersSocrates
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
PhilosophyPhilosophers of educationPhilosophers of loveCritics of religionsExecuted philosophersAncient Greek philosophers of mindIrony theoristsAncient Greek political philosophersClassical theismAncient Athenian philosophers5th-century BC Athenians5th-century BC Greek philosophersForced suicides470s BC birthsSocratesAncient Greek ethicists, Ancient Greek epistemologistsThe 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
PhilosophyPhilosophers of historyPantheistsPhilosophers of loveHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesAmerican male non-fiction writersCritics of work and the work ethicAnti-consumeristsSimple living advocates19th-century American poetsAmerican political philosophers19th-century American essayistsAnarchist writersAmerican lecturers19th-century American philosophersAmerican philosophers of culture19th-century deaths from tuberculosis19th-century American non-fiction writersAmerican spiritual writersUnderground Railroad peoplePhilosophers from MassachusettsAmerican male essayists, American male poetsAmerican philosophers of science, American philosophers of mind