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Saturday Live

Political philosopher Michael Sandel and the Inheritance Tracks of Don McLean

Duration: 1 hour, 28 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 FMLatest broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 LW

Available for over a year

Sian Williams and Aasmah Mir talk to US political philosopher Michael Sandel who argues that how much we define society by monetary value challenges the very core of our moral selves. Sian and Aasmah also explore notions of death- not in any morbid sense- but firstly with JP Devlin who brings us a 'guerrilla report' from Nunhead Cemetery in London. And secondly they find out about the increasingly popular 'Death Cafés where people meet for tea, cake and a jolly discussion about mortality, all run by Jon Underwood who feels we don't talk about death half enough. Then they meet child genius Jacob Barnett and his Mum Kristine. Jacob has an IQ higher than Einstein and has been confounding academics and scientists with his knowledge of astrophysics since he was 3. Now, at 14, he's working on extending the theory of relativity. In our 'sound sculpture', we hear the doleful sounds of the harmonium- loved and restored by folk musician Pete Roe and we enjoy The Inheritance Tracks of American legend Don McLean. Finally, Sian and Aasmah travel in the footsteps of Bonnie Prince Charlie with Gregor Ewing and his border collie Meg- who carries her own rucksack. Good dog.

Producer: Chris Wilson. Show less

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