Main content

Science and Sensibility

Gregory Tate, from the University of Surrey, asks what the novels of Jane Austen teach us about psychology and the power struggle between rational thought and unconscious emotion.

Today many scientists are engaged in exploring the interaction between logical and intuitive aspects of the mind. Gregory Tate, from the University of Surrey, argues that novelists have been examining similar psychological questions for centuries. The theme of this year's Free Thinking Festival is "Who's In Control?", and Gregory Tate's talk outlines the way the novels of Jane Austen shed light on the balance of power between thought and emotion.

Producer: Neil Trevithick.

Available now

15 minutes

Broadcast

  • Wed 6 Nov 2013 22:45

The Arts & Ideas Podcast

The Arts & Ideas Podcast

You can download all the past episodes of Radio 3's Free Thinking

Discussions and talks from the Free Thinking Festival 2019

Discussions and talks from the Free Thinking Festival 2019

Angry politics, what we can鈥檛 say, being diplomatic, weeping, emotion in music, film & TV

Click to listen to discussions, talks and music as the Free Thinking Festival 2019 Gets Emotional

Click to listen to discussions, talks and music as the Free Thinking Festival 2019 Gets Emotional

Angry politics, what we can鈥檛 say, being diplomatic, weeping, emotion in music, film & TV

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE programmes from the Free Thinking Festival 2018: The One & the Many

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE programmes from the Free Thinking Festival 2018: The One & the Many

We examine the fast-changing relationship between the individual & the crowd

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE all programmes, images, clips & features from 2017's festival

Free Thinking Festival 2017: The Speed of Life