Skip to content

Lea Ypi on Kant

October 26, 2026 · 28 min

Show notes

Kant was born in 18th century Prussia. He showed great intellectual promise as a child, but didn't make a name for himself until his late forties, when he published his lengthy tome on the scope of Metaphysics, called The Critique of Pure Reason, which unleashed what he himself referred to as a 'Copernican revolution' in thought.

Renowned for his clockwork routine, strict diet and for barely ever leaving his home town of Konigsberg, Kant was in fact a lively and well-loved lecturer and dinner party host, who had many friends.

Choosing the great philosopher is Professor Lea Ypi, from the London School of Economics, who first read Kant at a turbulent time in her life, during a civil war in Albania, when she felt that Kant could help her steer a path between dogmatism and scepticism.

In studio with Lea Ypi and the presenter Matthew Parris, is Kings College Kant scholar, Dr John Callanan.

The Producer in Bristol is Ellie Richold

All episodes of Great Lives

Settings

Display

Language

Decides which stations you see first on the home page.

History

Recently played stations and episodes and your latest searches are only stored in this browser.

Notifications

A short notice when a podcast you follow has a new episode. Turn off single podcasts with the bell on their page.

Account

Save favorites – in the app and on the website.

Keyboard shortcuts

/
Open search
Space
Play or pause
← →
In the player: back 15 s, forward 30 s (episodes) · in a row: next tile
↑ ↓
In a row: target within the tile
Home / End
In a row: first or last tile
Esc
Close window or menu
?
This overview
Now playing

Go to station page

Play next

    Add episodes with “Play next” – they play after the current episode.