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The Ideas That Make Us

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Bettany Hughes reveals the history of civilisation's most influential ideas.

Bettany Hughes reveals the history of the most influential ideas in the story of civilisation.

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The Ideas That Make Us: Series 1

The Ideas That Make Us: Series 1: Episode 4: Agony

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Episode 4

Episode 4: Agony

Series 1

Agony

BBC Radio 4 - The Ideas That Make Us, Series 1, Agony

Bettany explores ideas of agony, from conflict on the sports field to battles of the heart

Bettany Hughes investigates ideas of agony, from conflict on the sports field to the battles of the heart upon which literature depends. From September 2013.

The Ideas That Make Us is a Radio 4 series which reveals the history of the most influential ideas in the story of civilisation, ideas which continue to affect us all today.

In this 'archaeology of philosophy', the award-winning historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes begins each programme with the first, extant evidence of a single word-idea in Ancient Greek culture and travels both forwards and backwards in time, investigating how these ideas have been moulded by history and have impacted on history and the human experience. Here Bettany explores the idea of agony with cricket columnist Gideon Haigh, classicist Professor Paul Cartledge, philosopher Martin Warner and kate Mosse, best-selling author of 'Labyrinth' and 'The Taxidermist's Daughter'. 

Other ideas examined in The Ideas that Make Us are idea, desire, fame, justice, wisdom, comedy, liberty, hospitality and peace.


Producer: Dixi Stewart.

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.

Bettany Hughes reveals the history of civilisation's most influential ideas

Bettany Hughes reveals the history of the most influential ideas in the story of civilisation

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The Ideas That Make Us

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Episode 4: Agony

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