Free Philosophy Documentaries

Written and presented by Alain de Botton, this series is an entertaining, practical and psychobabble-free self-help course for the philosophically minded.

What if you could watch Socrates, on film, rehearsing his Socratic dialogues? What if there was footage of Descartes, Thoreau, or Shakespeare as themselves at work and in their daily life? Might we now look at these figures differently, with perhaps a deeper understanding of their work and lives?

Questions about our origins as a species have been plaguing us as humans, prodding us as scientists and dividing us as Americans for more than a hundred years...

This documentary-style course traces Rand’s life (1905-1982) from the perspective of her goal to become a writer. Photographs, film clips, and audio of Rand’s own personal recollections enliven this narrative of her prolific career.

Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek, akaThe Elvis of cultural theory, is given the floor to show of his polemic style and whirlwind-like performance.

Confucius is one of history's most influential men - a sage, philosopher and teacher - who, with Socrates and Buddha, lived at an extraordinary time in the evolution of mankind's civilization.

Liberates philosophy from the halls of academia through entertaining and thought-provoking excursions with some of today's most famous and influential thinkers.

One Man's Way is a 1996 documentary where Peter Singer documents the efforts and philosophies of animal rights activist Henry Spira, who is often remembered as the most effective animal activist of the 20th century.

Do we have free will? After so many centuries of debate by so many great thinkers, can we still make progress in answering this question? That's the goal of the Big Questions in Free Will Project.