Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Migrated podcast image for: A History of Ideas

A History of Ideas

Documentaries

Factual

Factual: History

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the work of key philosophers and their theories.

BBC Radio 4 LW

A History of Ideas: Historian Simon Schaffer on Beauty and Evolution

Why Are Things Beautiful?

20/11/2014

Historian Simon Schaffer on Beauty and Evolution

BBC Radio 4 - A History of Ideas, Historian Simon Schaffer on Beauty and Evolution

Historian Simon Schaffer on whether evolutionary science explains the existence of beauty.

Historian of science Simon Schaffer explores beauty and evolution. Can the ideas of Charles Darwin help explain Simon's love of Mahler?

Historian of science Simon Schaffer is interested in the purpose of beauty within evolutionary explanations. Taking the ideas of Charles Darwin as his starting point, he wants to know how and why the capacity to see beauty evolved and whether this powerful, fleeting and apparently most useless of attributes can really have an evolutionary explanation. Simon talks to neuroscientist and biologist Stephen Rose and film-maker and anthropologist Chris Wright about whether Darwin really can explain why he finds Mahler's 5th Symphony beautiful.

This programme is part of a week of programmes looking at the history of ideas around Freedom.

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

Accessibility links

Programme Index

A History of Ideas

Historian Simon Schaffer on Beauty and Evolution

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4