Humility

Humility

From Arts & Ideas by BBC Radio 4

March 27, 2026 · 57 min

About this episode

The episode explores the concept of humility through various philosophical and literary lenses.

From Spinoza's thinking and the approach of different religions to the Dickens' character Uriah Heep and the "humble brag" - in Radio 4's late night ideas discussion programme Matthew Sweet and guests explore humility. Lamorna Ash is a writer and journalist and the author of Don't Forget We're Here Forever, which explores what it means to be a Christian for young people throughout the UK today and reflected on her own journey into faith. Sir Robert Buckland is the former Conservative MP for South Swindon, a former Lord Chancellor and Solicitor General. He is a practicing barrister with Foundry Chambers, a visiting law professor at the LSE and the Third Church Estates Commissioner. Aaron Reeves is Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics and co author of Born to Rule: The Making and Remaking of the British Elite with Sam Friedman. Ceri Sullivan is a Professor of English Literature at Cardiff University. Her research has encompassed the managerial techniques presented in Shakespeare's history plays, pragmatism in literary texts and devotional poetry. Dr Dan Taylor is Senior Lecturer in Social and Political Thought at the Open University. He is the author of Spinoza…

People in this episode

Host: Matthew Sweet

Guests: Lamorna Ash, Sir Robert Buckland, Aaron Reeves, Ceri Sullivan, Dr Dan Taylor

Topics covered

  • humility
  • philosophy
  • religion
  • literature
  • sociology
  • faith

Keywords

  • humility
  • Spinoza
  • religion
  • literature
  • sociology
  • faith
  • Uriah Heep

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Don't Forget We're Here Forever, Born to Rule: The Making and Remaking of the British Elite

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