Human Nature

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the vexing issue of human nature. Some argue that we are born as blank slates and our natures are defined by upbringing, experience, culture and the ideas of our time. Others believe that human nature is innate and pre-destined, regardless of time and place. Is there really such a thing as human nature? And, if there is, can it be changed? Does the truth about human nature mean we should stop striving for progress, or should it give us cause for optimism? How important is the human race in the wider scheme of things? With Steven Pinker, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Centre of Cognitive Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Janet Radcliffe Richards, Philosopher, Reader in Bioethics, University College London; John Gray, Professor of European Thought, London School of Economics.

→ Play on BBC Sounds website

Guests

• Steven Pinker 2 episodes
  Professor of Psychology and Director of the Centre of Cognitive Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Janet Radcliffe Richards 5 episodes
  Philosopher, Reader in Bioethics, University College London
• John Gray 2 episodes
  Professor of European Thought, London School of Economics

Related episodes

• Evolutionary Psychology
  
  2 Nov, 2000 150 Psychology
• The Brain and Consciousness
  
  19 Nov, 1998 150 Psychology
• Nature
  
  10 Jul, 2003 100 Philosophy
• Progress
  
  18 Nov, 1999 100 Philosophy
• Consciousness
  
  25 Nov, 1999 120 Epistemology
• The Brain
  
  8 May, 2008 610 Medicine and health
• Good and Evil
  
  1 Apr, 1999 200 Religion
• Human Evolution
  
  16 Feb, 2006 560 Fossils and prehistoric life
• Intelligence
  
  1 Jul, 1999 150 Psychology
• Humanism
  
  8 Feb, 2001 190 Modern Western Philosophy

---

Programme ID: p00548kf

Episode page: bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00548kf

Auto-category: 150 (Psychology)

Hello (First sentence from this episode)

Hello, on In Our Time this week we'll be discussing nothing less than human nature.