Archive 1948-1975
Series of annual radio lectures on significant contemporary issues, delivered by leading figures from the relevant fields. Please note that relatively few recordings survive from this period.
Social Cohesion and Human Nature—Bertrand Russell - Authority and the Individual
In the inaugural Reith lecture, Bertrand Russell examines the impulses in human nature.
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Social Cohesion and Government—Bertrand Russell - Authority and the Individual
Bertrand Russell examines the effects of increasing state control.
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The Role of Individuality—Bertrand Russell - Authority and the Individual
Bertrand Russell argues for the importance of individual initiative in a community.
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The Conflict of Technique and Human Nature—Bertrand Russell - Authority and the Individual
Bertrand Russell considers the role of human nature in the development of society.
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Control and Initiative: Their Respective Spheres—Bertrand Russell - Authority and the Individual
Bertrand Russell considers the roles of state control in a progressive society.
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Individual and Social Ethics—Bertrand Russell - Authority and the Individual
Bertrand Russell argues for personal morality over tribal customs to guide conduct.
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British Rule In India—Cyril Radcliffe - Power and the State
Lord Radcliffe examines the early period of British administration in India.
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The Psychology of Encounters—Arnold Toynbee - The World and the West
Professor Arnold Toynbee considers the psychological effects of culture.
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The Sciences and Man's Community—Robert Oppenheimer - Science and the Common Understanding
Professor Robert Oppenheimer explains how human communities resemble atoms.
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The Atlantic Bridge—Oliver Franks - Britain and the Tide of World Affairs
Sir Oliver Franks analyses the political relationship between Britain and the USA.
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The Geography of Art—Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art
Nikolaus Pevsner explores the English national character as expressed in terms of art.
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Hogarth and Observed Life—Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art
Nikolaus Pevsner considers the 'Englishness' of the artist William Hogarth.
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Reynolds and Detachment—Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art
Nikolaus Pevsner examines the contradiction at the heart of Sir Joshua Reynolds' work.
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Perpendicular England—Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art
Nikolaus Pevsner examines 'the most English creation in architecture'.
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Blake and the Planing Line—Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art
Nikolaus Pevsner places the artist William Blake in the context of an English tradition.
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Constable and the Pursuit of Nature—Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art
Nikolaus Pevsner examines the flowering of English landscape painting in the 18th century.
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Architecture and Planning: The Functional Approach—Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art
Nikolaus Pevsner explores how England's town centres have traditionally been planned.
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Industrial Science—Edward Appleton - Science and the Nation
Professor Edward Appleton analyses the functional sciences created for industry.
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Science and Education—Edward Appleton - Science and the Nation
Professor Edward Appleton considers how to teach science in order to inspire new talent.
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The Problem of Eastern and Central Europe—George Kennan - Russia, the Atom and the West
Professor George F Kennan considers the effect of Soviet Satellite States in Europe.
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The Military Problem—George Kennan - Russia, the Atom and the West
Professor George Kennan discusses the military tensions between the Russia and the West.
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The Origin of the Universe 1—Bernard Lovell - The Individual and the Universe
Professor Bernard Lovell contemplates the implications of evolutionary theory.
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The Origin of the Universe 2—Bernard Lovell - The Individual and the Universe
Professor Bernard Lovell explores the continuous creation theory of the universe.
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Future of Man—Peter Medawar - The Future of Man
Professor PM Medawar considers the future of human evolution.
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