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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

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The Essay Podcast

The Essay

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Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond, themed across a week - insight, opinion and intellectual surprise.

The Essay: The Case for Doubt

The Essay: The Case for Doubt: Episode 1: Mark Vernon on Political Doubt

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The Case for Doubt

Episode 1

Episode 1: Mark Vernon on Political Doubt

Mark Vernon on Political Doubt

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Mark Vernon argues that disliking doubt in politics implies a loss of faith in it.

Mark Vernon argues that disliking doubt in politics implies a loss of faith in it, and that politicians should stop cultivating delusions of omnipotence.

Mark Vernon on political doubt.

"Forget that life is enveloped not just by known unknowns but unknown unknowns, and you will fall like Icarus from the sky". 

In the Essay this week, five contributors - journalists Mark Vernon, Madeleine Bunting, Alastair Campbell; scientist Susan Greenfield, and historian Jennifer Michael Hecht - make The Case for Doubt - the idea that political, religious, and scientific doubt, even self-doubt, though sometimes troubling, is much more useful and valuable than fixed opinions and beliefs. 

In this first Essay on doubt in politics, author and broadcaster Mark Vernon argues that a dislike of doubt in politics implies a loss of faith in politics, and that politicians - for their sake as well as ours - should stop cultivating delusions of omnipotent power. 

Producer David Coomes

First broadcast in April 2012.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Series in which people discuss the idea that doubt is more useful than fixed beliefs

Series in which people discuss the idea that political, religious, and scientific doubt, even self-doubt, though sometimes troubling, is much more useful and valuable than fixed opinions and beliefs

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Episode 1: Mark Vernon on Political Doubt

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