Start the Week

Other

BBC Radio 4 LW

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday

BBC Radio 4 FM

Start the Week: Humanism - what is it good for?

Humanism - what is it good for?

BBC Radio 4 - Start the Week, Humanism - what is it good for?

Adam Rutherford with Sarah Bakewell, Julian Baggini and Leila Aboulela

Sarah Bakewell, Julian Baggini and Leila Aboulela discuss what it means to be human, with Adam Rutherford

The writer Sarah Bakewell explores the long tradition of humanist thought in her latest book, Humanly Possible. She celebrates the writers, thinkers, artists and scientists over the last 700 years who have placed humanity at the centre, while defying the forces of religion, fanatics, mystics and tyrants. 

But placing humans at the centre isn’t without problems – critics point to its anthropocentric nature and excessive rationalism and individualism, as well its Euro-centric history. The philosopher Julian Baggini guides the listener in unpicking the tenets of humanism. His latest books is How to Think Like a Philosopher: Essential Principles for Clearer Thinking.

Humanism may have relegated the divine to the side lines, but for the characters in Leila Aboulela’s novels faith and devotion are integral to their sense of themselves. In her latest book, River Spirit, set in Sudan in the 1880s, her young protagonists struggle to survive and find love amidst the bloody struggle for Sudan itself.

Producer: Katy Hickman

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.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Start the Week

Humanism - what is it good for?

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4