<p>What is the role of intellectuals in public life? Matthew Sweet hosts Radio 4's Friday night round table discussion programme about ideas.  His guests are: 
Emile Chabal, author of a new biography about Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawm;
Sophie Scott Brown, who’s researching BBC TV programme The Brains Trust, in which historians, philosophers and others answered questions sent in by the audience; critic and columnist Muriel Zagha; 
former editor of Prospect magazine David Goodhart; 
and curator and critic Pierre d'Alancaisez. </p><p>Producer: Luke Mulhall</p>

The example of St Francis

Leading thinkers discuss the ideas shaping our lives - looking back at the news and making links between past and present. Fridays at 9pm on BBC Radio 4. Presented by Matthew Sweet, Shahidha Bari and Anne McElvoy.