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

BBC Radio 3

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The Essay Podcast

The Essay

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

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: Fear Itself

The Essay: Fear Itself: Episode 3: Quentin Skinner

Fear Itself

Episode 3

Episode 3: Quentin Skinner

Quentin Skinner

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How Thomas Hobbes came to argue that fear underpinned all human motivation and action.

Professor Quentin Skinner explores how 17th-century philosopher Thomas Hobbes came to argue that the emotion of fear underpinned all human motivation and action.

Fear is one of the six basic universal emotions (the others are anger, disgust, happiness, sadness and surprise) and like all human emotions not easy to understand. Fear can be played upon, enjoyed, conquered. It is an obstacle to progress ("the only thing to fear is fear itself") and, as we stand at the kerb, it saves our lives every day. This series of The Essay brings you five essays on different aspects of fear.

Professor Quentin Skinner of Queen Mary University of London tells the story of how 17th century British philosopher Thomas Hobbes came to believe that "fear and I were twin born" and to write fear into the heart of his political philosophy, arguing that it underpins all human motivation and action.

Producer Laura Thomas.

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 of essays on different aspects of the emotion of fear

People explore the emotion of fear, from a philosopher who believed it underpins all human relationships to an autistic woman whose insight into fear made her campaign for better treatment of animals

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Fear Itself

Episode 3: Quentin Skinner

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