Philosophy in the Streets

Paris was the city where some of the most improbable post-war upheavals began.

A mass movement in the streets and a huge general strike brought France to a halt for more than a month.

People took to the pavements shouting about the nature of society and began to formulate what they thought the world might be like.

The events of May 1968 shook the very foundations of French society and became a key turning point in the history of ideas.

A world of possibilities

In this programme Nick Fraser uncovers the intellectual revolution that spread from Paris throughout the world.

With original interviews and archive from key thinkers, 'Philosophy in the Streets' takes the May revolts not as a political failure but an intellectual success.

They had a huge social impact, that saw the replacement of conservatism to a more liberal society.

A powerful new generation of philosophers like Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Gilles Deleuze, Guy Debord and others made the intellectual world tremble.

Their ideas shaped one of the most iconic and enigmatic outbursts of political and intellectual energy of the 20th century.

Listen to Nick as he finds out why philosophy succeeded where politics failed.