Known for his dense and abstract writings, G W F Hegel (1770-1831) was one of the most influential philosophers of the 19th century. His ideas were united by his conception of history as a process in which cycles of conflict drive humanity toward a state of collective freedom and enlightenment – to put it all rather simply. In this interview with the UK broadcaster and philosophy populariser Bryan Magee (1930-2019), the Australian philosopher Peter Singer helps to unpack some of Hegel’s ‘notoriously obscure’ ideas. In particular, Magee and Singer focus on how Hegel’s conception of history as leading toward an endpoint influenced another revolutionary thinker, Karl Marx, as well as how the two differed on the matter of materialism. Capturing Singer in the early stages of his profoundly influential life as a public intellectual, the conversation also provides compelling insights into his own worldview.
video
Architecture
West Africa was once an architectural laboratory. Is it time for a revival?
12 minutes
video
Work
A Swedish expat in the Philippines wonders: what’s up with people sleeping at work?
14 minutes
video
Biography and memoir
The unique life philosophy of Abdi, born in Somalia, living in the Netherlands
29 minutes
video
Art
‘If you’re creative, why can’t you create a solution?’ One artist’s imaginative activism
17 minutes
video
The ancient world
An ancient Roman’s hilarious (and perhaps relatable) response to a social snub
2 minutes
video
Ethics
For Iris Murdoch, selfishness is a fault that can be solved by reframing the world
6 minutes
video
Death
A hunter’s lyrical reflection on the humbling business of being mortal
6 minutes
video
Love and friendship
After his son’s terrorist attack, Azdyne seeks healing – and his granddaughter
25 minutes
video
Art
More than breathtaking, ‘The Birth of Venus’ signalled an aesthetic revolution
19 minutes