Claim OwnershipBeyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's Podcast
Subscribed: 4Played: 40
Subscribe
© 2025 Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's Podcast
Description
Welcome to Beyond the Text, a podcast series dedicated to delving into intellectual history with depth and context. In a world saturated with quick takes, Beyond the Text goes the extra mile. Paying homage to Skinner's insights on the importance of context, this podcast unveils overlooked aspects of historical and intellectual narratives.
Co-hosted by Samuel Woodall and Jack Thomson, Beyond the Text explores the profound impact of thought and ideas throughout human history—forces that have driven change, shaped societies, and sparked revolutions. Beyond the mere words on the page, this podcast unravels the layers surrounding pivotal concepts and moments. Each episode meticulously examines the connections, influences, and societal currents that contribute to their evolution.
Join us on this journey to grasp the true significance of intellectual history. Whether you're an enthusiast, a curious mind, or someone intrigued by the myriad forces shaping our world, Beyond the Text provides a space for nuanced exploration. Tune in and venture beyond the surface to understand the rich tapestry of our intellectual heritage.
Samuel Woodall is a PhD candidate in Intellectual History at the University of Buckingham. He previously earned an MLitt in Intellectual History from the University of St. Andrews and a BA (Hons) in History and Politics from the University of Exeter.
Jack Thomson holds an MA in Philosophy from the University of Buckingham and brings a philosophical lens to the exploration of ideas, ensuring each discussion is both rigorous and thought-provoking.
44 Episodes
Reverse
Send us a text In this episode of the History of Ideas Club, Jack Thomson (MA Philosophy, University of Buckingham) leads a discussion on St Augustine’s The City of God. We explore Augustine’s response to the fall of Rome, his vision of the earthly and heavenly cities, and the influence of his thought on theology, politics, and philosophy. The History of Ideas Club meets bi-weekly in London to read and debate classic texts in philosophy and political thought. This recording brings the convers...
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Text, Samuel Woodall and Jack Thomson take a deep dive into the thought of John Rawls, exploring his major contribution to liberal political philosophy and the critiques it provoked from both libertarian and communitarian perspectives. We begin with A Theory of Justice (1971), where Rawls develops his influential idea of "justice as fairness"—a theory grounded in the principles of liberty and equality, structured around the thought experiments of t...
Send us a text In this session of the History of Ideas Club, we dive into the thought of John Rawls, one of the towering figures of 20th-century political philosophy, and explore the debate he sparked with thinkers like Robert Nozick and Michael Sandel. Rawls’ seminal work, A Theory of Justice (1971), redefined liberal political thought with his concept of "justice as fairness"—a vision rooted in equality, individual liberty, and the famous thought experiments of the "original position" and t...
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Text, we dive into Friedrich Hayek’s Law, Legislation, and Liberty, a profound exploration of legal philosophy, governance, and the limits of state power. Hayek draws a crucial distinction between law and legislation, arguing for the primacy of spontaneous order over centralized control. How do his insights shape our understanding of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law? And what relevance do they hold in today’s political climate? Join us as we...
Send us a text In this session of the History of Ideas Reading Club, we explore Friedrich Hayek's influential ideas on knowledge, society, and governance. We discuss his distinction between scientific knowledge and knowledge about the operations of society, questioning how our ignorance of the complex systems of social interaction impacts freedom. 🤔🌍 Hayek's view that social institutions cannot be rationally constructed from scratch leads us to examine the concept of society as a ‘spontaneous...
Send us a text In this episode, we dive into the key ideas of Sartre, De Beauvoir, and Camus, exploring how French existentialism reshaped our understanding of freedom, responsibility, and justice. 🔹 Jean-Paul Sartre – Being and Nothingness What does it mean to exist in a world without inherent meaning? We examine Sartre’s distinction between being-in-itself and being-for-itself, his concept of bad faith, and the ethical consequences of "existence precedes essence." 🔹 Simone de Beauvoir – Th...
Send us a text History of Ideas Club (Live) | The French Existentialists In this session of the Liberty series, hosted by Samuel Woodall and Jack Thomson from the Buckingham Political Thought Reading Club, we delve into the world of French existentialism. Join us as we explore the key ideas of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus—examining concepts like radical freedom, bad faith, authenticity, and the absurd. The discussion also covers existentialism's intersections with f...
Send us a text John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) wasn’t just a brilliant thinker—he was the product of an intense intellectual environment, shaped from childhood by his father, James Mill, and the utilitarian circle of Jeremy Bentham. Trained rigorously in logic, philosophy, and economics, Mill was expected to carry forward the utilitarian mission of maximizing happiness through reason and reform. But this pressure came at a cost. By his early twenties, Mill suffered a crisis that led him to quest...
Send us a text Join us as we delve into the life and legacy of John Stuart Mill (1806–1873), one of the most influential thinkers of the 19th century. This seminar explores how Mill's intellectual development was shaped by the close-knit network of families, mentors, and philosophical allies surrounding him. Raised under the rigorous tutelage of his father, James Mill—a key figure in the utilitarian movement—Mill was groomed to advance the utilitarian ideals of reason, reform, and social prog...
Send us a text In this episode, Samuel Woodall and Jack Thomson explore the ideas of John Locke and Thomas Paine, building on and going beyond the discussion at the History of Ideas Club. Locke’s Two Treatises of Government argued that governments derive legitimacy from the consent of the governed, laying the groundwork for modern liberal democracy. Paine took this further, calling for radical action in Common Sense and The Rights of Man, rejecting monarchy and gradual reform in favor of imme...
Send us a text John Locke (1632–1704), a key figure of the Enlightenment, is known for his contributions to philosophy, politics, and epistemology. His Essay Concerning Human Understanding introduces the concept of the tabula rasa, arguing that the mind begins as a blank slate, acquiring knowledge solely through experience. This empiricist view challenged traditional notions of innate ideas, such as Plato’s Forms or the Christian doctrine of original sin. A Letter Concerning Toleration ...
Send us a text In this new episode of Beyond the Text, we're introducing an exciting format going forward! Join Samuel Woodall (PhD Candidate in Intellectual History) and Jack Thomson (MA in Philosophy), both from the University of Buckingham, as they team up to explore Jean-Jacques Rousseau's The Social Contract. Together, they delve into the revolutionary ideas of the General Will, the principles of civic religion, and Rousseau's vision of a political community. This engaging discussion bl...
Send us a text This week's discussion will focus on Book 4 of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's The Social Contract. In this section, Rousseau delves into the complexities of the general will, the role of the sovereign, and the delicate balance between individual freedom and collective authority within the state. We'll explore Rousseau's arguments on the necessity of civil religion, the challenges posed by factions, and his provocative assertion that individuals may need to be "forced to be free." Our ...
Send us a text What if the intellectual debates of 19th-century Edinburgh held the secrets to modern evolutionary science? Join us on Beyond the Text as we uncover the fascinating world of the Plinian Society, where influential minds like Robert Jameson and Robert Edmund Grant engaged in fiery discussions about Lamarckian theory amidst a thriving scientific and literary culture. Discover how the Enlightenment ideals of the time fueled groundbreaking ideas, with contributions from Abraham Gott...
Send us a text This episode is from an interview with the society I founded in 2021, Progressive Britain. In this episode, we are honoured to welcome the Director of Unlock Democracy, and former Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, Tom Brake. 🚀 His think tank is advocating for constitutional reform to engage citizens and close the participation gap nationwide. 🇬🇧 Tom Brake, with his extensive experience as the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Environment, Transport, and Regions, Deputy Leader of the ...
Send us a text Welcome to "Beyond the Text," the podcast that delves into the intersection of science, history, and society. Join your host, Samuel Woodall, as we explore the fascinating world of science during the age of revolutions, just after the Enlightenment. In this week's episode, we embark on an intellectual journey through the Linnaean Society, an organization pivotal to the classification and study of plants and animals. Under the guidance of Dr. Bill Jenkins, we uncover how this s...
Send us a text Hello, esteemed music enthusiasts, and welcome to "Beyond the Music." I'm Samuel Woodall, your guide on this captivating journey through the life and works of the incomparable Henry Purcell. As an intellectual historian, I bring a unique perspective to our exploration, delving into the intricacies and brilliance of Purcell's musical legacy, politics, and philosophy. Born in 1659, Henry Purcell emerged from humble beginnings to become a towering figure in Baroque music. His sto...
Send us a text 🌟 Welcome, dear followers, to a new journey on "Beyond the Text"! 🌟 Today, we embark on a philosophical odyssey, exploring the pioneering ideas of Jeremy Bentham and the birth of Utilitarianism. We'll unravel the depths of Bentham's thought. But first, let's express our gratitude to Dr. Valerie Wallace for guiding us through this enlightening journey. 📜 Jeremy Bentham, an Enlightenment philosopher, reshaped history with his belief in the "greatest happiness principle." His leg...
Send us a text Join the ranks of history enthusiasts and literary connoisseurs as I, Samuel Woodall, sit down with the erudite Dr Jesse Norman, former Minister of State for Decarbonisation and Technology and author of "The Winding Stair." Step back in time to Elizabethan and Jacobean England, where the intense rivalry between Edward Coke and Francis Bacon unfolds in the pages of Dr. Norman's meticulously researched novel. As we traverse the corridors of power that shaped Bacon's political man...
Send us a text Embark on a journey through the corridors of history as Ritchie Robertson, a distinguished scholar in German literature and intellectual history, unravels the complexities of the Enlightenment era in his seminal work "The Enlightenment and the Pursuit of Happiness 1680 to 1790." Our insightful conversation peels back the layers of this transformative period, examining the nuanced relationship between Enlightenment thinking and religion, and the myriad of intellectual figures wh...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States