Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/great-thinkers For over 100 years, the Fellowship of the British Academy has brought together the country’s greatest thinkers from across the humanities and social sciences. In this new podcast, current Fellows of the British Academy shine a light on the Fellows of previous generations whose work still shapes how we see the world today. Listen to leading historians, economists, psychologists and political scientists introducing you to the academics that inspired them, revealing their remarkable lives and the enduring influence of their ideas. © The British Academy 32ac0c5b-7eff-58ed-90ee-c38f0c220ebf no en-gb Fri, 09 Feb 2024 20:01:47 +0000 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:12:37 +0000 https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/ https://img.transistor.fm/d0iQU0I775_PTFp4LNc1Uv_lB8Kr9IBGkQPbeyWcseQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzE5MjIvMTYwNjkw/NjE4NS1hcnR3b3Jr/LmpwZw.jpg https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/ episodic The British Academy For over 100 years, the Fellowship of the British Academy has brought together the country’s greatest thinkers from across the humanities and social sciences. In this new podcast, current Fellows of the British Academy shine a light on the Fellows of previous generations whose work still shapes how we see the world today. Listen to leading historians, economists, psychologists and political scientists introducing you to the academics that inspired them, revealing their remarkable lives and the enduring influence of their ideas. For over 100 years, the Fellowship of the British Academy has brought together the country’s greatest thinkers from across the humanities and social sciences. history, politics, philosophy, economics, history of art, psychology, sociology, law, humanities, social sciences, professors, academics The British Academy No No 10 10 Great Thinkers: Richard Fardon FBA on Mary Douglas FBA full a75501c8-b026-46a5-a262-b6fbb052c3be https://share.transistor.fm/s/7727c281 Mon, 01 Jul 2019 08:00:00 +0100 The British Academy The British Academy 1684 'Purity and Danger', a book exploring the concepts of pollution and taboo in societies around the world, made its author Mary Douglas one of Britain’s most celebrated anthropologists. In this episode, Fellows of the British Academy Richard Fardon and Henrietta Moore discuss the book’s lasting impact and Douglas’s equally fascinating later work. 'Purity and Danger', a book exploring the concepts of pollution and taboo in societies around the world, made its author Mary Douglas one of Britain’s most celebrated anthropologists. In this episode, Fellows of the British Academy Richard Fardon and Henr anthropology, social anthropology, ritual, taboo, consumerism, Catholicism, Mary Douglas, Richard Fardon, Henrietta Moore, Lele, pangolin No 9 9 Great Thinkers: John Curtice FBA on David Butler FBA full 9c634205-3ffd-46fd-a338-04eac2e29c8f https://share.transistor.fm/s/8d426e0d Mon, 24 Jun 2019 08:00:00 +0100 The British Academy The British Academy 1120 For three decades, David Butler FBA was the BBC’s go-to psephologist, covering every election from 1950 to 1979. Today, that role is filled by his former pupil, John Curtice FBA. In this episode, the two colleagues discuss how Butler came to make his career studying and analysing elections. For three decades, David Butler FBA was the BBC’s go-to psephologist, covering every election from 1950 to 1979. Today, that role is filled by his former pupil, John Curtice FBA. In this episode, the two colleagues discuss how Butler came to make his care politics, political science, psephology, election, polls, general election, BBC Politics, BBC News, John Curtice, David Butler, swingometer No 8 8 Great Thinkers: Jose Harris FBA on Beatrice Webb FBA full 86defe54-a075-4d20-9bf2-c8583ba52dc6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/149b71fa Mon, 17 Jun 2019 08:05:00 +0100 The British Academy The British Academy 1808 In 1931, the British Academy elected its first female fellow, Beatrice Webb. A sociologist, economist and social reformer, she was one of the four founders of the London School of Economics. In this episode, Professor Jose Harris FBA and Dr Ben Jackson take a closer look at Webb’s extraordinary life and legacy. In 1931, the British Academy elected its first female fellow, Beatrice Webb. A sociologist, economist and social reformer, she was one of the four founders of the London School of Economics. In this episode, Professor Jose Harris FBA and Dr Ben Jackson ta Beatrice Webb, social reform, London School of Economics, Fabian Society, Labour party, sociology, economics, socialism, Welfare State No 7 7 Great Thinkers: John Kay FBA on G.L.S. Shackle FBA full 97b300b2-3bbd-496e-aeae-5e9fe6b22dfb https://share.transistor.fm/s/ef73cf9d Mon, 10 Jun 2019 10:30:00 +0100 The British Academy The British Academy 1657 G.L.S. Shackle FBA spent his career advocating the importance of understanding uncertainty in economics, but his ideas fell out of fashion towards the end of the 20th century. In this episode, economist John Kay FBA and the former head of the Bank of England, Mervyn King FBA, explain why they’ve come around to Shackle’s way of thinking. G.L.S. Shackle FBA spent his career advocating the importance of understanding uncertainty in economics, but his ideas fell out of fashion towards the end of the 20th century. In this episode, economist John Kay FBA and the former head of the Bank of Engl economics, uncertainty, risk, finance, macroeconomics, radical uncertainty, financial modeling, G.L.S. Shackle, John Kay, Mervyn King, Bank of England, No 6 6 Great Thinkers: Dawn Adès FBA on John Golding FBA full a631f6e6-328e-41d5-b093-73b0b7a5227d https://share.transistor.fm/s/70ad7d99 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:00:00 +0100 The British Academy The British Academy 1584 John Golding FBA’s extensive career included writing the definitive book on Cubism and staging landmark exhibitions of Matisse and Picasso, as well as several solo shows of his own work. In this episode, Professor Dawn Adès FBA meets with two of Golding’s former pupils and colleagues, Professor Christopher Green FBA and Professor Elizabeth Cowling. They discuss his paintings, some of which now hang in the British Academy, look back over his life and assess his enduring impact on modern art. John Golding FBA’s extensive career included writing the definitive book on Cubism and staging landmark exhibitions of Matisse and Picasso, as well as several solo shows of his own work. In this episode, Professor Dawn Adès FBA meets with two of Golding’s history of art, art, cubism, John Golding, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Dawn Adès, Elizabeth Cowling, Mexican art, Abstract art No 5 5 Vernon Bogdanor FBA on A.V. Dicey FBA full e76dd098-4034-41cc-a142-3c8349e21cd2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/a53f091d Mon, 27 May 2019 08:00:00 +0100 The British Academy The British Academy 1280 What would A.V. Dicey FBA, the leading advocate of the ‘rule of law’ who died in 1922, think about Britain’s current constitutional tangles? In this episode, Vernon Bogdanor FBA and Conor Gearty FBA try to answer that question, with a look back at the jurist’s life and work. What would A.V. Dicey FBA, the leading advocate of the ‘rule of law’ who died in 1922, think about Britain’s current constitutional tangles? In this episode, Vernon Bogdanor FBA and Conor Gearty FBA try to answer that question, with a look back at the jur Brexit, politics, constitution, A.V. Dicey, Victorians, parliament, referendum, devolution, home rule, Vernon Bogdanor, Conor Gearty No 4 4 Hew Strachan FBA on Michael Howard FBA full 518cf943-adcf-47f8-a664-0ae47425577f https://share.transistor.fm/s/7951858e Mon, 20 May 2019 10:00:00 +0100 The British Academy The British Academy 1484 ‘Captain Professor’ Michael Howard FBA is a British Army veteran who was awarded the Military Cross for his service in WWII before he turned to academia, becoming one of the country’s most celebrated military historians. In this episode, Hew Strachan FBA and Sir Lawrence Freedman FBA trace Howard’s unusual journey from active participant in conflict to the leading expert on its study. ‘Captain Professor’ Michael Howard FBA is a British Army veteran who was awarded the Military Cross for his service in WWII before he turned to academia, becoming one of the country’s most celebrated military historians. In this episode, Hew Strachan FBA war studies, history, second world war, military history, army No 3 3 Jane Heal FBA on Elizabeth Anscombe FBA full b9d302c8-d307-46e0-be8f-2d2e94657ebb https://share.transistor.fm/s/1dc3b598 Fri, 26 Apr 2019 15:40:00 +0100 The British Academy The British Academy 1899 Elizabeth Anscombe FBA was one of the most important moral philosophers of the 20th century. In this episode, Jane Heal FBA and Dr Rachael Wiseman discuss highlights of her exceptional life, including working with Wittgenstein, pioneering ‘action theory’, and taking a stand against a US President. Elizabeth Anscombe FBA was one of the most important moral philosophers of the 20th century. In this episode, Jane Heal FBA and Dr Rachael Wiseman discuss highlights of her exceptional life, including working with Wittgenstein, pioneering ‘action theory’, philosophy, ethics, Wittgenstein, G.E.M. Anscombe, Jane Heal, Cambridge, feminism No 2 2 Uta Frith FBA on M.R. James FBA full f54506f4-6732-490c-83fe-f2a3acc7ff92 https://share.transistor.fm/s/2c01b123 Fri, 26 Apr 2019 15:35:00 +0100 The British Academy The British Academy 1221 Famous for writing some of Edwardian Britain’s most terrifying ghost stories, M.R. James FBA was also a respected paleographer and medievalist scholar. Psychologist Uta Frith FBA recounts fond memories of growing up with his tales and talks to Dr Christopher de Hamel about why we love to be scared. Famous for writing some of Edwardian Britain’s most terrifying ghost stories, M.R. James FBA was also a respected paleographer and medievalist scholar. Psychologist Uta Frith FBA recounts fond memories of growing up with his tales and talks to Dr Christop psychology, medieval studies, ghost stories, M.R. James, Uta Frith, Eton, Cambridge No 1 1 Rana Mitter FBA on Arnold J. Toynbee FBA full bc1301bb-66a3-4edd-886a-b14db2c9d3ab https://share.transistor.fm/s/8889e420 Fri, 26 Apr 2019 15:30:00 +0100 The British Academy The British Academy 1274 The publication of his 12-volume 'A Study of History' made Arnold Toynbee one of the most celebrated scholars of the 20th century – he was even featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1947. In this episode, his granddaughter Polly Toynbee joins historian Rana Mitter FBA for an exploration of the man, the books and their enduring legacy. The publication of his 12-volume 'A Study of History' made Arnold Toynbee one of the most celebrated scholars of the 20th century – he was even featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1947. In this episode, his granddaughter Polly Toynbee joins historia history, politics, world history, Chatham House, Rana Mitter, Arnold Toynbee, Polly Toynbee No