Free Thinking
Free Thinking
BBC Radio 4
Taste
56 minutes Posted Mar 16, 2026 at 6:15 pm.
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Show notes

'It's all in the best possible taste'. But what does it mean to have good taste? And does pursuing good taste lead to favouring style over substance? Who are the thinkers who have considered a philosophy of aesthetics?

Matthew Sweet hosts Radio 4's late night ideas discussion programme. His guests are:

Film historian and New Generation Thinker Sarah Smyth, who lectures in film and TV at the University of Essex

Philosopher Dr John Callanan, who lectures on Kant at King's College London
Writer and management consultant Peter York, whose books include Style War, co-author of The Official Sloane Ranger handbook
Broadcaster and writer Emma Dabiri who co-presented Britain's Lost Masterpieces for BBC 4 and whose latest book is Disobedient Bodies: Reclaim Your Unruly Beauty
Opera singer Le Gateau Chocolat

Producer Luke Mulhall