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

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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: What Makes Us Human?

Simon Schaffer on Humans, Apes and Carl Linnaeus

What Makes Us Human?

BBC Radio 4 - A History of Ideas, What Makes Us Human?

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss what makes us human.

Philosopher Barry Smith, classicist Catharine Edwards, historian Simon Schaffer and theologian Giles Fraser discuss what makes us human. Melvyn Bragg presents.

A new history of ideas presented by Melvyn Bragg but told in many voices.
 
Melvyn is joined by four guests with different backgrounds to discuss a really big question. This week he's asking What makes us human?
 
Helping him answer it are philosopher Barry Smith, classicist Catharine Edwards, historian Simon Schaffer and theologian Giles Fraser.
 
For the rest of the week Barry, Catharine, Simon and Giles will take us further into the history of ideas about being human with programmes of their own. Between them they will examine the evolution of language, the Stoic philosopher Seneca, the classification of all living species, the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and the film Bladerunner.

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

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A History of Ideas

What Makes Us Human?

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