In Our Time
BBC Radio 4
Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Melvyn Bragg and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.
History fans can learn about pivotal wars and societal upheavals, such as the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Sack of Rome in 1527, and the political intrigue of the Russian Revolution. Those fascinated by the lives of kings and queens can journey to Versailles to meet Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV the Sun King, or to Ancient Egypt to meet Cleopatra and Nerfertiti. Or perhaps you’re looking to explore the history of religion, from Buddhism’s early teachings to the Protestant Reformation.
If you’re interested in the stories behind iconic works of art, music and literature, dive in to discussions on the artistic genius of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers. From Gothic architecture to the works of Shakespeare, each episode of In Our Time offers new insight into humanity’s cultural achievements.
Those looking to enrich their scientific knowledge can hear episodes on black holes, the Periodic Table, and classical theories of gravity, motion, evolution and relativity. Learn how the discovery of penicillin revolutionised medicine, and how the death of stars can lead to the formation of new planets.
Lovers of philosophy will find episodes on the big issues that define existence, from free will and ethics, to liberty and justice. In what ways did celebrated philosophers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Karl Marx push forward radical new ideas? How has the concept of karma evolved from the ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism to today? What was Plato’s concept of an ideal republic, and how did he explore this through the legend of the lost city of Atlantis?
In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.
History fans can learn about pivotal wars and societal upheavals, such as the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Sack of Rome in 1527, and the political intrigue of the Russian Revolution. Those fascinated by the lives of kings and queens can journey to Versailles to meet Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV the Sun King, or to Ancient Egypt to meet Cleopatra and Nerfertiti. Or perhaps you’re looking to explore the history of religion, from Buddhism’s early teachings to the Protestant Reformation.
If you’re interested in the stories behind iconic works of art, music and literature, dive in to discussions on the artistic genius of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers. From Gothic architecture to the works of Shakespeare, each episode of In Our Time offers new insight into humanity’s cultural achievements.
Those looking to enrich their scientific knowledge can hear episodes on black holes, the Periodic Table, and classical theories of gravity, motion, evolution and relativity. Learn how the discovery of penicillin revolutionised medicine, and how the death of stars can lead to the formation of new planets.
Lovers of philosophy will find episodes on the big issues that define existence, from free will and ethics, to liberty and justice. In what ways did celebrated philosophers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Karl Marx push forward radical new ideas? How has the concept of karma evolved from the ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism to today? What was Plato’s concept of an ideal republic, and how did he explore this through the legend of the lost city of Atlantis?
In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 15, 2001 • 28min
The Restoration
Richard Ollard, an expert on the Stuart period, Mark Goldie from Cambridge, and Clare Jackson, a historian specializing in Scotland, delve into the Restoration of Charles II. They explore the contrast between the optimistic portrayal of a golden age and the harsh realities of political tensions and societal unrest. The discussion covers the Declaration of Breda, religious intolerance during the era, particularly in Scotland, and the complexities of Charles II's monarchy. Listeners will find a fascinating exploration of an era riddled with contradiction.
Feb 8, 2001 • 28min
Humanism
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Humanism. On the 3rd January 106 BC Marcus Tullius Cicero, lawyer, politician, Roman philosopher and the founding father of Humanism was born. His academy, the Studia Humanitas taught ‘the art of living well and blessedly through learning and instruction in the fine arts’, his version of ‘humanitas’ put man not God at the centre of the world.Centuries later, Cicero’s teachings had been metamorphosed into ‘Classical Humanism’, a faith in the soft arts of the Greek world. But how did Cicero’s ideas become Renaissance ideals? How did a small Greek curriculum later become a world philosophy? The human centred creed is credited with giving us human rights and democracy but has also been blamed for the most unspeakable horrors of the modern age. Have his ideas been distorted through the centuries for political ends? And why do some contemporary thinkers think the Humanist tradition is responsible for Elitism, Sexism and even Nazism? With Tony Davies, Professor and Head of the Department of English, University of Birmingham and author of Humanism; Lisa Jardine, Professor of Renaissance Studies, Queen Mary College, University of London and Honorary Fellow of Kings College Cambridge; Simon Goldhill, Reader in Greek Literature and Culture at Kings College Cambridge.
Feb 1, 2001 • 28min
Imperial Science
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss whether the British Empire was driven by the science of plants and agriculture rather than force. They explore the notion of 'improvement' as a driving force behind the Empire, and question if the 'light of pure reason' they brought to colonies was truly brighter. The episode delves into the evolution of scientific knowledge in colonial contexts and the dynamics of integrating indigenous and Western knowledge.
Jan 25, 2001 • 42min
Science and Religion
Stephen Jay Gould and other experts discuss the boundaries and compatibility of science and religion. They explore the non-overlapping magisteria concept, the evolution of science, ethical debates, Galileo's clash with the Catholic Church, genetic engineering in agriculture, and the intersection of science and religion in addressing morality and ethics.
Jan 18, 2001 • 42min
The Enlightenment in Britain
Exploring the Enlightenment in Britain, key thinkers like Locke and their impact on modern society are discussed. The unique characteristics of the British Enlightenment, its influence on the industrial revolution, and the transition to Romanticism are highlighted. Debates on control, dominance, progress, and democracy during this era add complexity to the intellectual movement.
Jan 11, 2001 • 28min
Mathematics and Platonism
Delve into the mystical origins of mathematics with a focus on Pythagoras and his belief in the divine nature of numbers. Explore the debate on whether mathematics is a human invention or a universal discovery, with insights on its role in interpreting the world. Hear about the creative process of mathematics, the search for definitive answers, and the philosophical underpinnings of its existence.
Jan 4, 2001 • 28min
Gothic
Horace Walpole and Anne Radcliffe delve into the Gothic genre's origins, influence on architecture, and enduring impact on popular culture. The discussion spans from the first Gothic novel to the Gothic Revival in architecture, exploring themes of terror, the allure of the medieval era, and the feminist aspect of Gothic literature. The podcast also delves into Gothic influences in film, literature, American Gothic, and youth culture resistance.
Nov 16, 2000 • 28min
Nihilism
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of Nihilism. The nineteenth-century philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, wrote, “There can be no doubt that morality will gradually perish: this is the great spectacle in a hundred acts reserved for the next two centuries in Europe”. And, with chilling predictions like these, ‘Nihilism’ was born. The hard view that morals are pointless, loyalty is a weakness and ‘truths’ are illusory, has excited, confused and appalled western thinkers ever since. But what happened to Nietzsche’s revolutionary ideas about truth, morality and a life without meaning? Existentialism can claim lineage to Nietzsche, as can Post Modernism, but then so can Nazism. With so many interpretations, and claims of ownership from the left and the right, has anything positive come out of the great philosopher of ‘nothing’?With Rob Hopkins, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Birmingham; Professor Raymond Tallis, Doctor and Philosopher; Professor Catherine Belsey, University of Cardiff.
4 snips
Nov 9, 2000 • 42min
Psychoanalysis and Literature
Melvyn Bragg discusses the role of Freudian analysis in literature with guests. They explore the relationship between psychoanalysis and literature, questioning if psychoanalysis can be reclassified as literature itself. The conversation delves into the impact of Freud's work on contemporary literary thinking and the emotional essence conveyed through literary masterpieces.
Nov 2, 2000 • 28min
Evolutionary Psychology
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Evolutionary Psychology. Richard Dawkins redefined human nature in 1976, when he wrote in The Selfish Gene: “They swarm in huge colonies, safe inside giant lumbering robots, sealed off from the outside world, communicating with it by tortuous indirect routes, manipulating it by remote control. They are in you and me; they created us body and mind; and their preservation is the ultimate rational of our existence…they go by the name of genes and we are their survival machines”. Potent ideas like this have given birth to a new discipline, ‘Evolutionary Psychology’: It claims that all of human behaviour can be understood in terms of a single compulsion - we must sexually reproduce so that our genes will live on. How has this idea developed, what can it tell us of how we behave, and can it be trusted? With Janet Radcliffe Richards, Reader in Bioethics, University College, London; Nicholas Humphrey, Professor of Psychology, New School for Social Research, New York; Professor Steven Rose, Professor of Physic, Open University.
