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What Makes Us Human?

Philosopher Barry Smith, classicist Catharine Edwards, historian Simon Schaffer and theologian Giles Fraser discuss what makes us human. Melvyn Bragg presents.

A new history of ideas presented by Melvyn Bragg but told in many voices.

Melvyn is joined by four guests with different backgrounds to discuss a really big question. This week he's asking What makes us human?

Helping him answer it are philosopher Barry Smith, classicist Catharine Edwards, historian Simon Schaffer and theologian Giles Fraser.

For the rest of the week Barry, Catharine, Simon and Giles will take us further into the history of ideas about being human with programmes of their own. Between them they will examine the evolution of language, the Stoic philosopher Seneca, the classification of all living species, the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and the film Bladerunner.

Available now

13 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Mon 19 Jan 2015 12:04
  • Mon 28 Jan 2019 12:04

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