Big Ideas Audio
Big Ideas offers lectures on a variety of thought-provoking topics which range across politics, culture, economics, art history, science.... By nature of its lecture format, pacing and inquisitive approach, it is the antithesis of the prevailing sound-bit
Visit Show Website http://www.tvo.org/bigideas/Recently Aired
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Charles Taylor on Religion and Violence
Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Philosophy at McGill University, ...
Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Philosophy at McGill University, Charles Taylor, on Religion and Violence.
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Steven Pinker on Thinking About Our Society
Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels of Our Nature, ...
Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels of Our Nature, delivers a lecture entitled Thinking About Our Society: Why Violence Has Declined. Pinker (Psychology - Harvard University) explores the essence of human nature and what lies behind the statistically unmistakable reduction in violence over the past few centuries.
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Ray Jayawardhana on Alien Planets
Author and astronomer Ray Jayawardhana discusses Alien Planets and his ...
Author and astronomer Ray Jayawardhana discusses Alien Planets and his latest book Strange New Worlds. The lecture focuses on techniques for detecting planets orbiting distant stars.
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Charles Taylor and Jonathan Sacks on The Future of Religion
Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Philosophy at McGill University, ...
Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Philosophy at McGill University, Charles Taylor and Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Jonathan Sacks discuss The Future of Religion in a Secular Age. The New Atheists, the state of marriage, the dangers of religion in the political sphere and the difference between religious thinking and magical thinking are all discussed.
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Robert J. Sawyer on Humanity 2.0
What will it mean to be human in the future? ...
What will it mean to be human in the future? Uploading consciousness into virtual worlds and prolonging life through biotechnology are already being contemplated. Canada's leading science fiction writer, Robert J. Sawyer, offers his insights in a lecture entitled Humanity 2.0, produced in collaboration with the Literary Review of Canada.
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Clay Shirky on Cognitive Surplus
Author, teacher and activist, Clay Shirky, discusses the visionary insights ...
Author, teacher and activist, Clay Shirky, discusses the visionary insights of Marshall McLuhan as well as his own ideas about the effects of new media and social networking on our society. Shirky's latest book Cognitive Surplus explores how new technology is unleashing a wave of creative production that he believes is transforming the world. Following the lecture, Shirky sits down for an interview with broadcaster Jesse Hirsh. The event was part of the McLuhan 100 series at the International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront Centre.
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David Brooks on The Social Animal
In a lecture entitled How Success Happens, New York Times ...
In a lecture entitled How Success Happens, New York Times columnist and author, David Brooks, draws from the research in his latest book The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement. His lecture was delivered at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.
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Julie Payette, Canadian Space Agency Perspectives from Space
The Canadian Space Agency's Chief Astronaut, Julie Payette delivers a ...
The Canadian Space Agency's Chief Astronaut, Julie Payette delivers a lecture entitled Canadian Space Agency Perspectives from Space: Research and Diplomacy.
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Palestine and the Arab Spring - Bonus audio
Bonus audio - Moderator Mark Kingwell and panelists Michael Ignatieff ...
Bonus audio - Moderator Mark Kingwell and panelists Michael Ignatieff and Ramin Jahanbegloo discuss Palestine and The Arab Spring as viewed through the writings of political philosopher Isaiah Berlin
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Thomas Homer-Dixon Q and A-Civilization Far From Equilibrium
Thomas Homer-Dixon answers questions following his lecture entitled Civilization Far ...
Thomas Homer-Dixon answers questions following his lecture entitled Civilization Far From Equilibrium: Energy, Complexity and Human Survival.
