Susan James
Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London
3 episodes
Covers topics in categories such as:
Cogito Ergo Sum
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss one of the most famous statements in philosophy, 'Cogito ergo sum', Rene Descartes' attempt to establish what we can truly know.
28 April 2011
Also featuring: John Cottingham, Stephen Mulhall
The Social Contract
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Social Contract. A key idea in political philosophy, it states that political authority is held through a contract with those to be ruled.
7 February 2008
Also featuring: Melissa Lane, Karen O'Brien
Beauty
Melvyn Bragg discusses the qualities of beauty and the history of aesthetics. Is beauty inherent in things, or in the mind of the observer?
19 May 2005
Also featuring: Angie Hobbs, Julian Baggini