Human Intelligence

Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?

Naomi explores the mind of Homer, the ancient Greek epic poet. She examines how oral tradition, memory, and performance were integral to the imagination of his work, and how storytelling functioned as a shared cultural intelligence long before writing became dominant. Through themes of heroism, fate, and human struggle, Homer’s epics reveal a deeply patterned way of thinking about the world. Naomi investigates how his storytelling mind has influenced countless generations, cultures and societies.

Special thanks to Edith Hall, Professor of Classics at the University of Durham.

Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.

Presenter: Naomi Alderman

Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?

Fatema Mernissi, a pioneering sociologist and Islamic feminist whose work centred on voice, storytelling, and power. She examined how narrative becomes a tool of resistance and survival. Naomi Alderman explores her belief that who gets to speak, and be heard, shapes societies, identities, and authority structures. Mernissi also recognised early on how emerging digital spaces could amplify women’s voices globally. Her thinking blends sociology, literature, and activism, offering a profound framework for understanding communication, agency, and cultural transformation.

Special thanks to Zakia Salime, associate professor of sociology and women's and gender and sexuality studies at Rutgers University.

Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.

Presenter: Naomi Alderman

Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?

Isabella d'Este was one of the most influential cultural figures of the Italian Renaissance. Renowned for her intelligence, political acumen, and refined taste, she shaped the artistic and intellectual life of her time through strategic patronage and correspondence with leading thinkers and artists. Naomi examines how she navigated the complex power dynamics of Italian courts, using curiosity, diplomacy, and aesthetic vision as tools of influence. From her famed studiolo to her extensive letters, Isabella’s thinking reveals a deeply modern mind; shrewd, self-aware, and committed to shaping culture through intellect as much as authority.

Special thanks to Sarah Cockram, lecturer in medieval history at the University of Glasgow.

Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.

Presenter: Naomi Alderman

Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?

Naomi explores the mind of Desmond Tutu, archbishop and human rights activist, and how his thinking reshaped approaches to justice and reconciliation. As chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he helped pioneer a transformative model of restorative justice grounded in dialogue rather than retribution. Central to his philosophy was Ubuntu, the African idea of a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity, shaping his ethical framework for national healing. Naomi examines how his moral seriousness turned reconciliation into lived practice rather than symbolic performance for a nation rebuilding itself after conflict.

Special thanks to Mungi Ngomane, author and activist.

Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.

Presenter: Naomi Alderman

Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?

Naomi explores the mind of Voltaire, one of the defining intellectual voices of the Enlightenment. Through more than 20,000 letters, Voltaire built a vast network of debate known as the “Republic of Letters,” using wit, scepticism, and relentless curiosity to challenge authority and defend freedom of thought. Naomi examines how his experiences of censorship, exile, and persecution shaped his fierce opposition to religious intolerance and abuses of power. From his famous call to “crush the infamous” to his sharp philosophical style, she unpacks how Voltaire’s provocative thinking transformed public debate and helped define modern intellectual life.

Special thanks to David Wootton, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of York

Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.

Presenter: Naomi Alderman

Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?

Elinor Ostrom, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, challenged one of the most influential assumptions in modern economics: the “tragedy of the commons.” Through extensive field research, Ostrom demonstrated that communities around the world can successfully manage shared resources without destroying them. Her work offered a powerful alternative to the belief that competition and privatisation are inevitable. Naomi examines how her deeply practical ideas continue to shape conversations about cooperation, sustainability, democracy, and how humanity might build a more balanced and livable future.

Special thanks to Daniel Cole, emeritus professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.

Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.

Presenter: Naomi Alderman

Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?

Eugène-Francois Vidocq is often regarded as the father of modern policing. Credited with creating the first private detective agency and pioneering the role of the agent provocateur, Vidocq transformed criminal investigation in 19th-century France. Naomi examines how his first-hand knowledge of the underworld helped revolutionise law enforcement through early forensic methods, detailed criminal records, fingerprint concepts, and visual identification techniques. His innovations laid the foundation for modern detective work and influenced policing methods that are still used around the world today.

Special thanks to James Morton, retired criminal defence lawyer and author of ‘The First Detective: The Life and Revolutionary Times of Vidocq’.

Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.

Presenter: Naomi Alderman

Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?

From inventing the idea of talk therapy to reshaping how we understand dreams, desire, and behaviour, Sigmund Freud changed psychology forever. But what intellectual qualities did he possess that enabled him to carry out this work? Naomi traces his journey starting with medical fascination, but then how he moved from studying the body to focusing on the mind. Ultimately, Naomi uncovers how both his deeply curious mind and willingness to be wrong were the driving forces behind his breakthroughs and enduring intellectual legacy.

Special thanks to Dr Eve Watson, psychoanalyst and academic.

Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.

Presenter: Naomi Alderman

Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?

Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí perfected the art of double-meanings in his memorable visual art. What can we learn from the mind who encourages us to find the deeper, hidden sub-text in the world around us?

Special thanks to Dawn Ades, Professor Emerita of the History and Theory of Art at the University of Essex.

Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.

Presenter: Naomi Alderman

Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?

Cicero was the Roman Republic's supreme orator. He used speeches and writing to attack enemies, to define what counted as legitimate power, and force questions of law and legitimacy out into the open. He became the renowned advocate and lawyer that everyone wanted to defend their case as he won the vast majority of his high-profile battles in the legal arena. Largely in part to his incredibly provocative style - but what was it about the brain of Cicero that made him capable of that? He also transformed how the language of Latin was used to produce argument and philosophical thinking. He is our model today for how democracy relies on provocation, where one is willing to say the unsayable and where no one is beyond criticism.

Special thanks to  Katherine Tempest, lecturer in Roman history at the University of Leicester.

Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.

Presenter: Naomi Alderman