Theologian Giles Fraser, writer Lisa Appignanesi, classicist Edith Hall and psychotherapist Mark Vernon discuss the history of ideas around love. Melvyn Bragg presents. Show more

Classicist Edith Hall explores Aristophanes's speech in the Symposium about the nature of love. Show more

Theologian Giles Fraser discusses gene theory versus altruism with Tom Stoppard and evolutionary biologist Armand Leroi. Show more

What is love? Psychotherapist Mark Vernon looks at Freud's ideas on the Greek god Eros, which he saw as a kind of life force running through us, shaping our desires and passions. Show more

How should we love our children? Writer Lisa Appignanesi thinks we should turn first to philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, arguably the first childcare guru. Show more

Melvyn Bragg hosts as theologian Giles Fraser, writer Lisa Appignanesi, classicist Edith Hall and psychotherapist Mark Vernon discuss the history of ideas around Love. Show more

Physicist Tara Shears, lawyer Harry Potter, philosopher Clare Carlisle and neuropsychologist Paul Broks debate the question 'How can I know anything at all?' Melvyn Bragg presents. Show more

Barrister Harry Potter questions the reliability of eyewitness testimony. It is a vital question for justice today, but Harry takes it back to the work of philosopher David Hume. Show more

Science is the driver of our knowledge but how can we tell real science from mumbo jumbo? Physicist Tara Shears considers how the very uncertainty of science moves us forward. Show more

Clare Carlisle grapples with Bishop George Berkley's ideas about immaterialism: he believed that there only minds and ideas in those minds, no physical matter. Show more

Paul Broks looks at the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and the problem of 'other minds'. How do I know you are not a zombie who behaves like a human but has no consciousness? Show more

Melvyn Bragg hosts as Bishop Berkley, Karl Popper, David Hume and Ludwig Wittgenstein debate how we can know anything at all. Show more

Melvyn Bragg is joined by philosopher Angie Hobbs, lawyer Harry Potter, neuropsychologist Paul Broks and theologian Giles Fraser to exchange ideas on freedom. Show more

Melvyn Bragg joins philosopher Angie Hobbs, lawyer Harry Potter, neuropsychologist Paul Broks and theologian Giles Fraser to exchange ideas on freedom. Show more

Philosopher Angie Hobbs talks about two kinds of freedom: negative and positive. The distinction was made by Isaiah Berlin but derives from the ideas of the Greek philosopher Plato. Show more

Barrister Harry Potter champions the ideas of John Stuart Mill on individual liberty and the role of the state. Show more

Giles Fraser is a theologian and he is interested in the tradition of religious thinking that understands true liberation comes from accepting constraints in life. Show more

Neuroscientist Paul Broks tackles an age-old philosophical argument over whether humans have free will or whether all our thoughts and actions are predetermined. Show more

Melvyn Bragg is joined by mathematician Vicky Neale, historian of science Simon Schaffer and philosophers Barry Smith and Angie Hobbs to discuss different ideas about beauty. Show more

Philosopher Barry Smith champions the 18th-century Scottish thinker David Hume and his ideas about cultivating good taste. Show more