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
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.
Oct 26, 2000 • 42min
The Tudor State
Historian Melvyn Bragg and guests explore the Tudor State's influence on modern governance and justice. They discuss Henry VII's disruption of power balance, Henry VIII's redefinition of monarchy, religious changes during his reign, emergence of humanism in the 16th century, and the impact of publications on state building. They also delve into key personalities like Henry VIII, Elizabeth, and Thomas Moore in shaping the structures of the modern state.
Oct 19, 2000 • 28min
Laws of Nature
Delving into the historical quest for universal laws governing the universe, from ancient theories to modern string theory. Examining the influence of Aristotle and Newton on science progression and questioning the nature of physical laws. Exploring the applications of physics laws, including Newton's gravity and the pursuit of unified theories. Investigating unpredictable patterns in critical states and the challenges of predicting complex phenomena. Reflecting on the quest for unity in quantum theory and the universe, alongside mathematical patterns in human history and natural phenomena.
Oct 12, 2000 • 42min
The Romantics
Historian and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg dives into the ideals, exponents, and legacy of Romanticism with experts. Topics include the burst of creativity by poets like Wordsworth and Keats, the influence of Rousseau on romantic writers, Coleridge's philosophy merging empiricism and religion, the rejection of classical poetry in favor of nature-inspired works, the dark side of romanticism, and the Romantics' contrasting views on education and nature.
Oct 5, 2000 • 42min
Hitler in History
Historians delve into how Hitler's crimes in Germany are understood through theories like totalitarianism and distorted modernity. They debate Hitler's role in genocide and his charismatic leadership, comparing his evilness with other historical figures. The podcast also explores Hitler's downfall, his motivations, and his Wagnerian influences in a captivating discussion.
Sep 28, 2000 • 42min
London
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of London. To T.S.Eliot it was the “Unreal City”, to Wordsworth “Earth has not anything to show more fair” but to Shelley, “Hell is a city much like London”. At the start of this twenty-first century the capital city covers an area of 625 square miles, is home to 7 million souls, and has an economy which at more than £115 billion is larger than that of Saudi Arabia, Ireland or Singapore. Is this modern metropolis still the place that the poets described? Can there be such a thing as a history of a city, which in each generation sucks in its communities from around the country and around the globe? In a city whose buildings have been razed, whose people have been decimated and whose borders have been dramatically redrawn, what is there that connects it to its own past?With Peter Ackroyd, author of London: The Biography; Claire Tomalin, author and biographer of Samuel Pepys; Iain Sinclair, poet, novelist and author of Liquid City and Lights Out for the Territory.
