Big Ideas (audio)

  • Author: Vários
  • Narrator: Vários
  • Publisher: Podcast
  • Duration: 253:03:02
  • More information

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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

  • Charles Taylor on Religion and Violence

    23/02/2012 Duration: 49min

    Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Philosophy at McGill University, Charles Taylor, on Religion and Violence.

  • Steven Pinker on Thinking About Our Society

    18/02/2012 Duration: 40min

    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.

  • Ray Jayawardhana on Alien Planets

    11/02/2012 Duration: 46min

    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.

  • Charles Taylor and Jonathan Sacks on The Future of Religion

    11/02/2012 Duration: 54min

    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.

  • Robert J. Sawyer on Humanity 2.0

    04/02/2012 Duration: 58min

    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.

  • Clay Shirky on Cognitive Surplus

    21/01/2012 Duration: 55min

    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.

  • David Brooks on The Social Animal

    14/01/2012 Duration: 50min

    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.

  • Julie Payette, Canadian Space Agency Perspectives from Space

    07/01/2012 Duration: 51min

    The Canadian Space Agency's Chief Astronaut, Julie Payette delivers a lecture entitled Canadian Space Agency Perspectives from Space: Research and Diplomacy.

  • Palestine and the Arab Spring - Bonus audio

    24/12/2011 Duration: 11min

    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

  • Thomas Homer-Dixon Q and A-Civilization Far From Equilibrium

    24/12/2011 Duration: 10min

    Thomas Homer-Dixon answers questions following his lecture entitled Civilization Far From Equilibrium: Energy, Complexity and Human Survival.

  • Keith Devlin on Leonardo and Steve: How Fibonacci Beat Apple

    17/12/2011 Duration: 55min

    Keith Devlin, Executive Director of the H-STAR Institute at Stanford University, discusses Leonardo and Steve: How Fibonacci Beat Apple to Market by 800 Years

  • Steve Paikin on The Personal Price of a Political Life.

    12/12/2011 Duration: 24min

    Steve Paikin, anchor and senior editor of TVO's series The Agenda with Steve Paikin, delivers the 20th annual Bell lecture entitled, The Personal Price of a Political Life. The lecture was recorded at Carleton University in Ottawa on November 16th, 2011.

  • John Ibbitson on the Collapse of the Laurentian Consensus

    10/12/2011 Duration: 44min

    John Ibbitson, Ottawa bureau chief for The Globe and Mail, delivers a lecture on The Collapse of the Laurentian Consensus and the Rise of Ontario as a Pacific Province. This lecture was produced in collaboration with the Literary Review of Canada.

  • Armine Yalnizyan and William Watson on economic disparity

    03/12/2011 Duration: 56min

    Armine Yalnizyan, senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and William Watson, McGill economics professor, debate Inequality: A Threat to Democracy? This is the 2011 Keith Davey Forum on Public Affairs, moderated by political scientist Jeffrey Kopstein.

  • Liberty and the Arab Spring: Exploring Isaiah Berlin's Ideas

    03/12/2011 Duration: 55min

    Moderator Mark Kingwell and panelists Michael Ignatieff and Ramin Jahanbegloo discuss the writings of political philosopher Isaiah Berlin as they pertain to Liberty and The Arab Spring

  • Gaspar Tamas on The Failure of Liberal Democracy

    26/11/2011 Duration: 52min

    Hungarian philosopher, Gaspar Tamas,on The Failure of Liberal Democracy in Eastern Europe and Everywhere Else. His lecture was delivered at the Munk School of Global Affairs on September 20, 2011. Tamas is a prolific writer of essays with a wide-ranging and distinguished career in academics and government. He was also a leading figure in the East European dissident movements.

  • Gabor Maté on The Human Face of Addictive Behavior

    24/11/2011 Duration: 54min

    Drawing on his experiences with addicted patients from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Dr. Gabor Maté discusses how the medical and legal systems are failing in the so-called war on drugs. He reads from his book In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, and suggests ways in which our approach to dealing with drugs and drug addicts could be improved.

  • Hod Lipson on Programmable Matter: Shape of Things to Come

    19/11/2011 Duration: 53min

    Hod Lipson of Cornell University discusses the future of 3-D printing in his lecture entitled, Programmable Matter: The Shape of Things to Come

  • Janice Stein on 9/11: Reflections after Ten Years

    19/11/2011 Duration: 10min

    Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs, Janice Stein, provides a summary and closing remarks at the event entitled 9/11: Ten Reflections after the Passage of Ten Years: An Opportunity to Contemplate and Remember. It was recorded on September 13, 2011. The event was produced by the Munk School of Global Affairs in conjunction with the Centre for the Study of the United States.

  • Ronald Pruessen on 9/11: Reflections after Ten Years

    19/11/2011 Duration: 07min

    University of Toronto history professor, Ronald Pruessen, with his contribution to 9/11: Ten Reflections after the Passage of Ten Years: An Opportunity to Contemplate and Remember. It was recorded on September 13, 2011. The event was produced by the Munk School of Global Affairs in conjunction with the Centre for the Study of the United States.

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