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David Runciman

The History of Ideas Podcast
with David Runciman

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A bi-weekly podcast exploring the history of ideas from politics to philosophy, science to fiction.

Latest episode

Can Universities Survive? The Thousand-Year Story Part 2

21 October 2026

00:00 / 01:04

Today’s episode is the second part of David's conversation with historian William Whyte about how universities have survived for nearly a thousand years and whether they can last much longer. How did the industrial revolution change what universities were for? Why did the attempt by French and Russian revolutionaries to abolish universities come to nothing? What made universities symbols of modernisation? And can institutions that have adapted to just about everything adapt to the digital revolution as well?

William Whyte’s new book is The University: A History in Stone, Silk, and Blood – available now https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674495180

You can find out everything else you need to know about this podcast – who we are, what we do, plus our free online courses and full lists of all episodes including PPF+ bonus episodes – on our website https://www.ppfideas.com

Next Time in Can Universities Survive? The Great Expansion

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More episodes

Can Universities Survive? The Thousand-Year Story

18 October 2026

00:00 / 01:04

The History of Transhumanism: Silicon Valley

14 October 2026

00:00 / 01:04

The History of Transhumanism: New Horizons

11 October 2026

00:00 / 01:04

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