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The Ideas That Make Us

Bettany Hughes reveals the history of the most influential ideas in the story of civilisation.

Radio 4,25 episodes

Episodes

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Series 5
Chaos
Is chaos good or bad? Bettany Hughes explores the place of disruption in our lives.
21 Apr 2017,15 mins
Series 5
Gaia
Do we still believe in Mother Earth? Bettany Hughes examines our relationship with Gaia.
20 Apr 2017,15 mins
Series 5
Memory
Why does our past hold the key to our future? Bettany Hughes explores our need to remember
19 Apr 2017,15 mins
Series 5
Time
Who owns time? Bettany Hughes examines what time means to us and how we can best use it .
18 Apr 2017,15 mins
Series 5
Hope
Are we hard-wired for hope? Bettany Hughes finds out why we believe things can get better.
17 Apr 2017,15 mins
Series 4
Character
Street philosophy with Bettany Hughes, and changing ideas of character through the ages.
08 Aug 2016,15 mins
Series 4
Harmony
Street philosophy with Bettany Hughes, and changing ideas about harmony through the ages.
09 Aug 2016,15 mins
Series 4
Narcissism
Street philosophy with Bettany Hughes, and changing ideas about narcissism through time.
10 Aug 2016,15 mins
Series 4
Technology
Street philosophy with Bettany Hughes, and changing ideas about technology through time.
11 Aug 2016,15 mins
Series 4
Hubris
Street philosophy with Bettany Hughes, and changing ideas about hubris through time.
12 Aug 2016,15 mins
Series 3
Psyche
Bettany Hughes examines her psyche by lying on Sigmund Freud's famous couch.
15 Dec 2014,15 mins
Series 3
Charisma
Bettany Hughes investigates charisma in her archaeology of philosophy.
16 Dec 2014,15 mins
Series 3
Irony
Bettany Hughes examines irony in her archaeology of philosophy.
17 Dec 2014,15 mins
Series 3
Nemesis
Bettany Hughes pursues nemesis on the streets of ancient Athens.
18 Dec 2014,15 mins
Series 3
Virtue
Bettany Hughes considers virtue in her archaeology of philosophy.
19 Dec 2014,15 mins
Series 2
Liberty
Bettany Hughes examines changing ideas of liberty in her archaeology of philosophy.
27 Jan 2014,15 mins
Series 2
Comedy
Bettany listens to a rat laughing and giggles at schoolboy jokes from Ancient Mesopotamia.
28 Jan 2014,15 mins
Series 2
Hospitality
Bettany gazes into outer space and invites poet Ben Okri round to her house for supper.
29 Jan 2014,15 mins
Series 2
Wisdom
Bettany attends a women's football game and visits a synagogue to hear the Song of Deborah
30 Jan 2014,15 mins
Series 2
Peace
Bettany Hughes explores changing ideas of peace in her archaeology of philosophy.
31 Jan 2014,15 mins
Series 1
Ideas
Bettany Hughes' archaeology of philosophy. Who came up with the idea of an idea?
16 Sep 2013,15 mins
Series 1
Fame
Bettany Hughes considers the fame game through the ages.
17 Sep 2013,15 mins
Series 1
Love
Bettany Hughes explores the influence of Eros through the ages.
18 Sep 2013,15 mins
Series 1
Agony
Bettany explores ideas of agony, from conflict on the sports field to battles of the heart
19 Sep 2013,15 mins
Series 1
Justice
Bettany Hughes investigates ideas of justice, from Babylon to the Old Bailey.
20 Sep 2013,15 mins