Philosophical movements

A philosophical movement refers to the phenomenon defined by a group of philosophers who share an origin or style of thought. Their ideas may develop substantially from a process of learning and communication within the group, rather than from outside influences.

11 episodes

  1. Empiricism

    Melvyn Bragg discusses the development of the idea formulated by John Locke that all knowledge arises from experience, and looks at its effect on the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution.

    10 June 2004

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    Featuring: Judith Hawley, Murray Pittock, Jonathan Rée

     
  2. Existentialism

    Melvyn Bragg discusses existentialism, a twentieth century philosophy of everyday life concerned with the individual, and his or her place within the world.

    28 June 2001

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    Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Christina Howells, Simon Critchley

     
  3. Humanism

    Melvyn Bragg examines what happened to Humanism after its invention by Cicero in the first century BC. What does humanism actually mean and is it still a classical force in contemporary ideas?

    8 February 2001

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    Featuring: Tony Davies, Lisa Jardine, Simon Goldhill

     
  4. Logical Positivism

    Melvyn Bragg and guests including Barry Smith discuss Logical Positivism, the radical philosophy of the Vienna Circle.

    2 July 2009

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    Featuring: Barry Smith, Nancy Cartwright, Thomas Uebel

     
  5. Ordinary language philosophy

    Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Ordinary Language Philosophy, one of the most important British contributions to 20th-century thought.

    7 November 2013

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    Featuring: Stephen Mulhall, Ray Monk, Julia Tanney

     
  6. Phenomenology

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the philosophical movement phenomenology.

    22 January 2015

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    Featuring: Simon Glendinning, Joanna Hodge, Stephen Mulhall

     
  7. Pragmatism

    Melvyn Bragg discusses the American philosophy of pragmatism which purported that knowledge is only meaningful when coupled with action.

    17 November 2005

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    Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Julian Baggini, Miranda Fricker

     
  8. Progress

    Melvyn Bragg examines whether while mankind has grown in years and knowledge, it has also progressed in terms of happiness and a truer understanding of the human condition.

    18 November 1999

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    Featuring: Anthony O'Hear, Adam Phillips

     
  9. Scepticism

    Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the history of philosophical scepticism.

    5 July 2012

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    Featuring: Peter Millican, Melissa Lane, Jill Kraye

     
  10. The Enlightenment in Britain

    Melvyn Bragg examines the part British thinkers played in the Enlightenment in the 18th century, and examines whether the shifts of thought in those years provided the platform for the modern world.

    18 January 2001

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    Featuring: Roy Porter, Linda Colley, Jeremy Black

     
  11. The Scottish Enlightenment

    Melvyn Bragg discusses the emergence and impact of the Scottish Enlightenment which was led by the philosopher David Hume and the father of modern economics, Adam Smith.

    5 December 2002

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    Featuring: Tom Devine, Karen O'Brien, Alexander Broadie