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Why Are Things Beautiful?

A History of Ideas Omnibus

Mathematician Vicky Neale, historian of science Simon Schaffer and philosophers Barry Smith and Angie Hobbs discuss different ideas about beauty.

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

Each week Melvyn is joined by four guests with different backgrounds to discuss a really big question. This week he's asking 'Why are things beautiful?'

Helping him answer it are Mathematician Vicky Neale, historian of science Simon Schaffer and philosophers Barry Smith and Angie Hobbs.

For the rest of the week Vicky, Simon, Barry and Angie will take us further into the history of ideas about beauty with programmes of their own. Between them they will examine the mathematics of beauty, whether beauty has moral force, whether beauty can be explained in evolutionary terms and how David Hume developed a theory of good taste.

In this omnibus edition all five programmes from the week are presented together.

Available now

58 minutes

Last on

Fri 21 Nov 2014 21:00
Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

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What Does It Mean to Be Free?Omnibus

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How Do I Tell Right from Wrong?Omnibus

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Broadcast

  • Fri 21 Nov 2014 21:00
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

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Podcast

  • A History of Ideas

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the work of key philosophers and their theories.