Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's Podcast
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.
Episodes
59 episodes
Beyond the Text: Moderation and Memory: Rapin de Thoyras and the Making of English Party
🎓 A milestone moment in the PhD journey…Last term, I had the privilege of delivering my first presentation of my doctoral research at the Humanities Research Day at the University of Buckingham — and what a moment it was....
Beyond the Text: Edmund Burke and the Moral Imagination
💭 Can feeling and imagination preserve what reason alone cannot? In this episode, Jack Thomson explores the political vision of Edmund Burke and the enduring power of moral imagination.Through Reflections on the Revolution in France, we ...
History of Ideas Clubs: Industrialisation and Karl Marx
Step into the upheaval of the long nineteenth century in this History of Ideas Club recording 🎙️“Industrialisation and Marx: The Making of Modern Society” explores a world transformed by unprecedented socio-economic ...
History of Ideas Club: The Birth of the Modern Republic: France, America, Haiti
Step into one of the defining political transformations of modern history in this History of Ideas Club recording 🎙️“The Birth of the Modern Republic: France, America, Haiti” explores the emergence of republican government ...
History of Ideas Club: Revolution of Modernity: Descartes, Kant, Hegel
Step into one of the most transformative moments in intellectual history in this History of Ideas Club recording 🎙️“Revolution of Modernity: Descartes, Kant, Hegel” explores the deep tensions at the heart of modern thought ...
Beyond the Text: Joseph de Maistre: Order, Authority, and the Counter-Revolution
In this episode of Beyond the Text, Sam Woodall and Jack Thomson explore the provocative political thought of Joseph de Maistre, one of the most formidable critics of the Enlightenment and a central voice of the Counter-Revoluti...
History of Ideas Club: The Copernican Revolution in Astronomy
Copernicus demonstrated for the first time that the Earth orbits the sun, and not the reverse as was previously thought. Previous measurements had lended themselves to the latter view, but the number of 'epicycles' needed to model the known orb...
Beyond the Text: Augustine’s City of God
In this episode of Beyond the Text, Jack and Sam return to one of the foundational works of Western intellectual and political thought – City of God by Augustine of Hippo – as part of our ongoing catch-up discussions from...
History of Ideas Club: The English Civil War
The conflict between monarchical and republican visions of the state reflects far deeper disagreements about the human person - especially the nature of freedom, authority, and the possibility of self-government. Monarchies have often fallen be...
History of Ideas Club: The Gregorian Reforms and the Protestant Reformation: Changing Concepts of Law and State
In the eleventh century, the Gregorian Reforms sought to impose coherence on ecclesiastical or canon law and to clarify the relationship between Church and State. At their heart lay a radical question: to what extent should secular authority be...
History of Ideas Club: Rome: From Empire to Republic (and Back Again)
How did Rome move from kingship to republic, and from republic to empire? In this episode, we explore the political evolution of Rome through the lens of classical political thought and historical experience.Drawing on Cicero’s famous ac...
History of Ideas Club: 'And the Word Became Flesh…’: Christianity’s Emergence and Impact
Christianity emerged from a world already shaped by Jewish law and Greek philosophy, yet it introduced one of the most radical ideas in intellectual history - that God became flesh. In this episode, we explore how the doctrine of the Incarnatio...
History of Ideas Club: Disraeli and Oakeshott
💭 Can politics be an art of belonging rather than a science of control? In this final instalment of the Heritage Series, Samuel Woodall explores the enduring legacy of Benjamin Disraeli and Michael Oakeshott — two thinkers who...
History of Ideas Club: Roger Scruton
💭 Can conservatism be a culture of love rather than fear? In this episode, Jack Thomson explores the life and thought of Sir Roger Scruton (1944–2020) — philosopher, writer, musician, and one of the most articulate defenders of beauty,...
History of Ideas Club: Edmund Burke and the Romantic Poets
💭 Can feeling and imagination preserve what reason alone cannot? In this episode, Jack Thomson explores how Edmund Burke’s political vision of order, tradition, and moral imagination found unexpected echoes in the Romantic movement — e...
History of Ideas Club: Joseph de Maistre
Welcome to the third instalment of our Heritage Series, part of the History of Ideas Reading Club, hosted by Jack Thomson (MA Philosophy, University of Buckingham).In this session, we turn to the fiercely counter-revolu...
History of Ideas Club: Augustine's City of God
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 ...
Beyond the Text: Plato's Republic
In this episode of Beyond the Text, Samuel Woodall and Jack Thomson sit down for an in-depth discussion on Plato’s Republic—one of the most influential works in the history of political thought. Written against the backdrop of...
History of Ideas Club: Plato's Republic
In this History of Ideas Club session, we turn to one of the foundational texts of Western political thought: Plato’s Republic. Written in the aftermath of Athens’ political turmoil and the execution of Socrates, The Repub...
Beyond the Text: Rawls and Sandel
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 a...
History of Ideas Club: Rawls and Sandel
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 Sand...
Beyond the Text: F. A. Hayek: Law, Legislation, and Liberty
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...
The History Of Ideas And Political Thought Reading Club Presents: Liberty Series, Hayek.
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, q...
Beyond the Text: The French Existentialists: Sartre, De Beauvoir, Camus
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 W...
The History Of Ideas & Political Thought Reading Club Presents: Liberty Series French Existentialism
History of Ideas Club (Live) | The French ExistentialistsIn 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 existentiali...