Synopsis
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-bite television norm. The simple, bold concept is a victory of substance over style. Big Ideas airs Saturdays and Sundays at 5:00 PM EST on TVO - Canada's largest educational broadcaster.
Episodes
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Umberto Eco on Beauty and Ugliness
17/01/2009 Duration: 53minInternationally renowned author and philosopher, Umberto Eco, gives "An Illustrated Presentation on the History of Beauty and Ugliness", based on his two recent books "On Beauty" and "On Ugliness".
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Margaret Atwood's 2008 Massey Lecture
10/01/2009 Duration: 56minAuthor Margaret Atwood delivers the 2008 Massey Lecture, "Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth".
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Kirk J. Schneider on the mystery of being
13/12/2008 Duration: 45minDr. Kirk Schneider explores therapeutic approaches to the mystery of being in a lecture delivered at an International Conference on Personal Meaning.
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Ernesto Spinelli on death anxiety
13/12/2008 Duration: 42minDr. Ernesto Spinelli delivers a lecture "Exploring Death Anxiety" at an International Conference on Personal Meaning
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Thomas Homer-Dixon on the stresses that could lead to the breakdown of world economies and political systems
06/12/2008 Duration: 55minAuthor and scholar, Thomas Homer-Dixon, explores the convergence of natural, social, and economic stresses that could lead to the breakdown of world economies and political systems.
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Ron Deibert on Hacking Back: The Battle for Human Rights Online
22/11/2008 Duration: 53minPolitical science professor Ron Deibert looks at the issue of internet censorship and surveillance around the world.
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Richard Florida on how the creative class is impacting cities and society at large
15/11/2008 Duration: 56minBest-selling author, Richard Florida, describes how the creative class is impacting cities, business and society at large.
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Mark Kingwell and Malcolm Gladwell on social change
01/11/2008 Duration: 56minUniversity of Toronto philosophy professor and author, Mark Kingwell, and journalist Malcolm Gladwell square off in a lively debate about social change and how best to achieve it.
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Norman Doidge on The Brain That Changes Itself
28/06/2008 Duration: 55minPsychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and best-selling author, Dr. Norman Doidge, discusses the findings in his latest book, The Brain that Changes Itself, an examination of brain neuroplasticity.
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Hamida Ghafour on The Sleeping Buddha: Portraits of a Changing Afghanistan
07/06/2008 Duration: 23minJournalist Hamida Ghafour on her book "The Sleeping Buddha: Portraits of a Changing Afghanistan".
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Marina Nemat on her book Prisoner of Tehran
07/06/2008 Duration: 29minA lecture by Marina Nemat, author of "Prisoner of Tehran".
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Charles Jencks on Critical Modernism: Where is Post-Modernism Going?
24/05/2008 Duration: 55minArchitect and author, Charles Jencks, presents a lecture based on his recent book "Critical Modernism: Where is Post-Modernism Going?"
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Paul Collier on The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It
17/05/2008 Duration: 41minPaul Collier, Professor of Economics at Oxford University, delivers the 2008 Lionel Gelber Public Lecture on his award-winning book, ?The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It?.
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Margaret MacMillan on History: The Next Secular Religion Part 2
11/05/2008 Duration: 47minAuthor and historian Margaret MacMillan delivers this year's Trinity College Larkin-Stuart Lecture. The topic of her 2-part lecture is "History: The Next Secular Religion?"
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Margaret MacMillan on History: The Next Secular Religion Part 1
10/05/2008 Duration: 44minAuthor and historian Margaret MacMillan delivers this year's Trinity College Larkin-Stuart Lecture. The topic of her 2-part lecture is "History: The Next Secular Religion?"
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John English on Trudeau’s World: The Making of an Internationalist
19/04/2008 Duration: 28minIn his lecture entitled "Trudeau's World: The Making of an Internationalist", historian and author John English, discusses Trudeau's path to political prominence and influence, particularly in the domain of international affairs.
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Daniel Bell on China’s New Confucianism
12/04/2008 Duration: 44minDaniel Bell, Professor of Philosophy at Tsinghua University in Beijing presents a lecture on "China's New Confucianism".
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Oliver Sacks on his book Musicophilia
23/02/2008 Duration: 51minWorld-famous neurologist and author, Oliver Sacks, discusses his latest book, Musicophilia, a look at how music can impact on the brain. Sacks' love of music is well known, and now he turns his attention to his patients for whom music can be both treatment and affliction. He describes the power of music to move us, to heal, and to haunt us.
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Steven Pinker on The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature
02/02/2008 Duration: 51minHarvard psychology professor, Steven Pinker, presents a talk on his latest book, The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature.
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Ariel Garten on the neuroscience of conflict
17/11/2007 Duration: 26minPsychotherapist and artist, Ariel Garten, explores the neuroscience of conflict.