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Honest Doubt: The History of an Epic Struggle

Honest Doubt: The History of an Epic Struggle: Episode 10: Caught in the Middle

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Episode 10

Episode 10: Caught in the Middle

Caught in the Middle

BBC Radio 4 - Honest Doubt: The History of an Epic Struggle, Caught in the Middle

Richard Holloway discusses what is meant by free will.

Richard Holloway discusses what is meant by free will and takes Ridley Scott's film of the science-fiction novel Blade Runner as an analogy.

In a series of personal essays, Richard Holloway considers the tensions between faith and doubt over the last 3000 years. Author and former Bishop of Edinburgh, Richard Holloway focuses on the Judeo-Christian tradition as he takes the listener from the birth of religious thinking, through the Old and New Testaments, to the developments in subsequent centuries and their influence on thinkers and writers, up to the present day. 

In today's programme, Richard Holloway discusses what is meant by free will and takes Ridley Scott's film of the science-fiction novel 'Blade Runner' as an analogy - in particular the character of Rachel, a manufactured 'replicant' who believes she is human. From that starting-point he engages with the ideas of Spinoza, Schopenhauer and Freud and how they grappled with the concept. 

Taking part in today's programme are Nina Power, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Roehampton University, and Chris Janaway, Professor of Philosophy at Southampton University.



Producer: Olivia Landsberg
A Ladbroke Production for BBC Radio 4.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Richard Holloway presents a series on the relationship between faith and doubt

Richard Holloway, writer and former Bishop of Edinburgh, presents a series of personal essays on the relationship between faith and doubt over the last 3,000 years

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Honest Doubt: The History of an Epic Struggle

Episode 10: Caught in the Middle

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