Free Thinking

To mark the 300th anniversary of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's birth and discuss why Rousseau still matters today Philip Dodd is joined by the novelist Lawrence Norfolk, philosopher Susan James, Professor of Intellectual History Richard Whatmore and specialist in 18th Century Literature Lucy Powell. The actor Samuel West reads from Rousseau's work.

With Rana Mitter. Night Waves has a first night review of The Royal Opera's production of Berlioz's Les Troyens - complete with over 100 singers. Rana is also joined by Dambisa Moyo, Steve Tsang and Isobel Hilton for an examination of China's race for resources. Emma Griffin, one of the next of this year's New Generation Thinkers reexamines the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the working class. Frances Ashcroft shows how electrical signals in our cells are essential to everything we think and do and with James Malpas, Rana takes a look at Tate Modern's latest exhibition Edvard Munch: The Modern Eye.

Matthew Sweet talks to Jenny Saville about her work on display at The Museum of Modern Art in Oxford. Diarmaid MacCulloch and Nick Spencer discuss whether the disestablishment of the Church of England would be good or bad for the church and for society as a whole. New Generation Thinker, Matthew Smith looks at the cultural history of the diagnosis and medical treatment of ADHD. And Dr Ellen Adams explains about the importance of the language known as Linear B.

For this International Review Edition Matthew Sweet is joined by Moscow based broadcaster and critic Konstantin Eggert, Colombian born philosopher and law lecturer Oscar Guardiola-Rivera, Iranian academic Narguess Farzad, and Lesley Lokko, a novelist who shares her time between Ghana, South Africa and Scotland. They discuss a new book by Alonso Cueto, the Blue Hour which deals with the legacy of the war with the Shining Path and a Russian film Silent Souls, about two men trying to keep alive the ancient traditions of their people. They also debate whether an ageing population is perceived as a gift or a burden in other parts of the world and discuss arts and cultural events where they are.

With Samira Ahmed, Kerry McCarthy (MP for Bristol East) has the verdict on Armando Iannucci's new comedy; Veep. Comedian David Baddiel and biographer Nicola Beauman reappraise Elizabeth Taylor's written work. New Generation Thinker Charlotte Blease, examines historical and contemporary deceptions in medical practice. And Curator Brigitte Schultz, the historian Timothy Stanley and Wouter Vantisphout of Delft University in the Netherlands discuss the phenomenon of the modern empty city with reference to a new exhibition of photographs currently on display in Berlin.

Anne McElvoy talks to the Pulitzer Prize winner, Katherine Boo about her book, Behind the Beautiful Forevers. Jackie Wullschlager reviews the literally luminous new show at Tate Liverpool which features the late work of Twombly, Turner and Monet; one of our New Generation thinkers, Timothy Secret, reflects on how we mourn our dead and Uta Frith, Harry Collins and Marcus Chown explore a new twist on the legacy of one of the great scientific minds of the 20th Century, Alan Turing.

Philip Dodd talks to Gerard Lemos, the author of The End of the Chinese Dream: why Chinese People Fear the Future. Also in the programme, a first night review of Benjamin Britten’s 1951 opera Billy Budd in a new production at the ENO. As the Olympics draw nearer and we head further into a time of austerity Philip and guests discuss the notion of endurance. And tonight marks the start for this year’s New Generation Thinkers. This evening Adriana Sinclair on whether the law is the only path to justice.

Anne McElvoy asks Director David Cronenberg if he sees himself as a political commentator, or are his films all about the spectacle? Lord Robert Winston criticised the Cultural Olympiad for the lack of science in the four-year celebration. Anne McElvoy is joined by Lord Winston and the historian of science Richard Holmes to discuss the relationship between science and the arts. This week marks the 30th anniversary of the end of the Falklands war, and Anne McElvoy talks to authors Carlos Gamerro. His novel “The Islandsâ€*, recently translated in English, gives a surreal account of the war and explores its impact on the Argentinian psyche. And artist Rachel Whiteread's first permanent public commission in this country - a new façade for the Whitechapel Gallery in London. Anne is joined by the art critic for The Times, Rachel Campbell-Johnston.

Philip Dodd hosts a concert on Europe, with political thinker Slavoj Zizek who has recently returned from Athens, the writer Pankaj Mishra, Edward Lucas, the Editor of the International section of The Economist and the broadcaster and journalist Michael Goldfarb. And Kamila Shamsie reviews the extraordinary eight hour, un-cut staged reading of The Great Gatsby, Gatz, part of LIFT, the London International Festival of Theatre.

Matthew Sweet talks to the singer, actor and civil rights campaigner Harry Belafonte. He tells Matthew how he and Sidney Poitier were like Apollo astronauts, sharing a pioneering role that's hard for anyone else to understand. And as British race relations films Sapphire and Flame in the Streets are re-released Matthew is joined by film historian Stephen Bourne, anthropologist Kit Davis and actress Adjoa Andoh to discuss the films.