Past Present Future David Runciman
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- History
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Past Present Future is a bi-weekly History of Ideas podcast with David Runciman, host and creator of Talking Politics, exploring the history of ideas from politics to philosophy, culture to technology. David talks to historians, novelists, scientists and many others about where the most interesting ideas come from, what they mean, and why they matter.
Ideas from the past, questions about the present, shaping the future. Brought to you in partnership with the London Review of Books.
New episodes every Thursday and Sunday.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The History of Bad Ideas: Eugenics
For the first episode in our new series about the hold of bad ideas David talks to the geneticist and science broadcaster Adam Rutherford about eugenics: from its origins in the 19th century through its heyday in the 20th century to its continuing legacy today. Is eugenics bad science, bad morality, bad politics – or all three? What are the fears that keep drawing people back to trying to control the consequences of human reproduction? And is a new age of consumerist eugenics upon us?
For ad-free listening and bonus episodes – including more bad ideas – subscribe to PPF+ www.ppfideas.com
Next time on The History of Bad Ideas: Helen Thompson on the Gold Standard
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The History of Freedom w/Lea Ypi: Liberation Movements
In our final episode David and Lea discuss liberation movements, from post-colonial liberation to women’s liberation, gay liberation and animal liberation. What, if anything, do these movements have in common? Is liberation about equality or is it about difference? And who needs liberating next – children?
You can hear our bonus episodes for this series by signing up to PPF+ www.ppfideas.com In the first bonus episode – available now – David and Lea answer listeners’ questions about AI, technology, online surveillance and brains-in-a-vat: what happens to freedom if we’re living in a computer simulation?
Coming next our brand new series: The History of Bad Ideas, beginning with Adam Rutherford on eugenics.
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The History of Freedom w/Lea Ypi: Existentialism and Psychoanalysis
In the penultimate episode in this series David and Lea discuss two twentieth-century philosophies of freedom and the human psyche. What can existentialism teach us about the nature of free choice under conditions of despair? Is there any escape from bad faith? And what can individuals – or even entire societies – learn about their freedom from being put on the couch?
Sign up to PPF+ to get two bonus episodes to accompany this and all future series along with ad-free listening: www.ppfideas.com
Coming next on the History of Freedom: Liberation Movements
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The History of Freedom w/Lea Ypi: Anarchism and Nihilism
In our series about different ideas of freedom David and Lea have reached anarchism and nihilism. What is the positive vision of human freedom behind the anarchist rejection of the established order? What can nineteenth-century anarchists teach us about freedom in the twenty-first century? And if nihilists are against everything, what are they for?
Sign up to PPF+ to get ad-free listening and two bonus episodes a month – just go to ppfideas.com
Coming up next: David and Lea discuss existentialism and psychoanalysis.
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The History of Freedom w/Lea Ypi: What is the Free Market?
In the latest episode of our series about different ideas of freedom David and Lea explore what makes the free market free – and where it fails. How does buying and selling stuff advance human freedom? What does the free market free us from? And is it really possible to be free in a world dominated by credit and debt?
Sign up now for PPF+ to get bonus episodes and ad-free listening www.ppfideas.com
Next on the History of Freedom: Anarchism and Nihilism
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The History of Freedom w/Lea Ypi: Kant, Enlightenment and Peace
In this episode in our series about ideas of freedom David and Lea explore Immanuel Kant’s vision of rational freedom and perpetual peace. Why was Kant so sure that human reason would produce enlightened progress? Was he right? What are the obstacles likely to derail the advance of peace, then and now? How well do his arguments about free speech and free expression hold up in the age of the internet?
Sign up now for PPF+ to get bonus episodes and ad-free listening www.ppfideas.com
Coming up next on the History of Freedom: How Free is the Free Market?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Customer Reviews
Freedom series
An excellent series, a real pleasure to hear a conversation that draws out the complexity, critique and contextual understanding of how freedom inheres in the world. Thank you both
Stringless in a labyrinth +
Really enjoyed the President series. Made us rewatch The West Wing.
Have upgraded to plus but market freedom show appeared before plus and however much I copy link, can’t get plus on my iPad. Fine on iPhone.
1980
Can I ask why the 2 presenters failed to mention the extroadinary Ted Kennedy speech at the 1980 Democratic convention only equalled 4 years later by Mario Cuomo
Marc Bernstein of Southgate North London