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What Makes Us Human?

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss what makes us human.

• 12 mins

Simon Schaffer on humans, apes and Carl Linnaeus

Simon Schaffer on botanist Carl Linnaeus who first classified humans among the apes

• 12 mins

Catharine Edwards on Seneca and facing death.

Only humans know they will die. Catharine Edwards on the Stoic philosopher Seneca

• 12 mins

Barry Smith on Noam Chomsky and Human Language

Philosopher Barry Smith on Noam Chomsky and human language

• 12 mins

Giles Fraser on Wittgenstein and Blade Runner

Theologian Giles Fraser on Wittgenstein and Blade Runner

• 12 mins

Historian Justin Champion on William Whiston's Comet Theory

Historian Justin Champion on William Whiston, the spiritual father of the Philae lander.

• 11 mins

How Has Technology Changed Us?

Melvyn Bragg is joined by Tom Chatfield, Gabriel Weston, Justin Champion and Matt Pope.

• 11 mins

Writer Tom Chatfield: Has technology rewired our brains?

Tom Chatfield on whether modern technology enhances or diminishes us.

• 11 mins

Historian Justin Champion on Francis Bacon

Historian Justin Champion on 17th-century polymath Francis Bacon.

• 11 mins

Surgeon Gabriel Weston on medical technology

Surgeon Gabriel Weston sees how medical technology has changed us.

• 11 mins

Archaeologist Matt Pope on tools and human evolution

Archaeologist Matt pope looks at the role of technology in early human evolution.

• 11 mins

How Do I Live a Good Life?

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how to live a good life.

• 11 mins

Philosopher Jules Evans on Aristotle and Flourishing

Philosopher Jules Evans asks Gus O'Donnell how to measure the good life.

• 11 mins

Justin Champion on Max Weber and the Protestant Ethic

Justin Champion looks at the roots of our culture's belief in the moral power of hard work

• 11 mins

Naomi Appleton on the Buddha's Four Noble Truths

Naomi Appleton explores the Buddha's Four Noble Truths.

• 11 mins

Ayn Rand and Selfishness

Neuropsychologist Paul Broks looks at the idea of leading a good life by being selfish.

• 11 mins

What Is Justice?

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss ideas about justice.

• 11 mins

Barrister Harry Potter on Deterrence

In this edition of a series of programmes on justice, Harry Potter examines deterrence.

• 11 mins

Philosopher Angie Hobbs on the Veil of Ignorance

Angie Hobbs, Leif Wenar and David Runciman debate and explore the ideas of John Rawls.

• 11 mins

Thomas Hobbes and Civil Disobedience

Criminologist David Wilson looks at Thomas Hobbes and his 'social contract' theory.

• 11 mins

Historian Alice Taylor on Habeas Corpus

Historian Alice Taylor on the slippery justice of extrajudicial detention.

• 11 mins

What Does It Mean to Be Me?

Barry Smith, Paul Broks, AL Kennedy and Jules Evans discuss the self.

• 11 mins

Paul Broks on John Locke and Personal Identity

Paul Broks asks how we can be sure we are the same person that we were yesterday.

• 11 mins

Writer AL Kennedy on Sartre and the Individual

Writer AL Kennedy explores existentialist ideas about the individual.

• 11 mins

Philosopher Jules Evans on Jung and the Mind

Jules Evans explores Jung and the shadow inside all of us.

• 11 mins

Philosopher Barry Smith on Descartes and Consciousness

Philosopher Barry Smith explores ideas about consciousness.

• 11 mins

How Should We Live Together?

Melvyn Bragg and guests debate how we should live together.

• 11 mins

Historian Justin Champion on Toleration

Professor Justin Champion examines Locke's Letter on Toleration.

• 11 mins

Economist Kate Barker on the Free Market

Is a free market the best foundation for a fair, dynamic society?

• 11 mins

Philosopher Angie Hobbs on Plato's Philosopher Kings

Angie Hobbs asks if the ideal state would be run by philosophers not politicians.

• 11 mins