Arts & Ideas

Is idleness ever a virtue? In a world that seems to privilege utility and productivity abo... more

Do individuals or broader forces shape history? In the 2025 Reith lectures on BBC Radio 4,... more

Why marry? Jane Austen began her novel Pride and Prejudice with the observation "It is a t... more

Rocks have shaped the fates of civilizations and the study of geology has transformed our ... more

What function do ceremonies like Armistice Day perform? How do we balance desires for reco... more

"Doom-prepping" tech billionaires have been in the headlines recently and whether it’s eco... more

From economics to dreams: Anne McElvoy and guests consider the value of irrationality. How... more

From military ceremonies to folk customs - can traditions really provide an answer to nati... more

Science is one of the major sources of authority in society today. Scientists develop tech... more

What does living a good life involve? Michael Rosen's new book is called Good Days and off... more

In party conference season, we look at what bonds party members and what it means to creat... more

The French philosopher Michel Foucault though friendship could be one of the most subversi... more

Shahidha Bari looks at censorship, editing and self-censorship with guests including histo... more

Anne McElvoy and guests explore the intersections between Christian faith and political de... more

Journalists Peter Hitchens and Oliver Kamm, radio presenter and comedian Ellis James, lang... more

"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." The words of Sam... more

Personal Identity is at the heart of contemporary culture. Political philosophies are buil... more

What do we mean by 'common sense'? In 1925 the philosopher GE Moore wrote a Defence of Com... more

Political power can take many forms, from the top-down model of the Roman Empire, to opera... more

Wolves were once hunted and persecuted to the point of near extinction but are now enjoyin... more