Available online
Description
In strong contrast to Programme 1 this programme follows Professor Sir Alfred Ayer when he returns to Eton. Ayer came from an affluent Swiss-French family and went to Prep. School before winning a ...scholarship to Eton. Although his father had financial difficulties, the family was supported by their grandfather who would have been prepared to pay for Ayer's education. Against the background of Eton, Ayer gives a short life history and then joins the Headmaster and four 6th Form boys for a discussion. They discuss Eton and how it has influenced or affected Ayer's life and how it might be expected to affect the lives of the boys, Ayer also explains why and how he reached some of his philosophical viewpoints.
In strong contrast to Programme 1 this programme follows Professor Sir Alfred Ayer when he returns to Eton. Ayer came from an affluent Swiss-French family and went to Prep. School before winning a ...scholarship to Eton. Although his father had financial difficulties, the family was supported by their grandfather who would have been prepared to pay for Ayer's education. Against the background of Eton, Ayer gives a short life history and then joins the Headmaster and four 6th Form boys for a discussion. They discuss Eton and how it has influenced or affected Ayer's life and how it might be expected to affect the lives of the boys, Ayer also explains why and how he reached some of his philosophical viewpoints.
| Module code and title: | E200, Contemporary issues in education |
|---|---|
| Item code: | E200; 02 |
| First transmission date: | 28-02-1981 |
| Published: | 1981 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:18 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Richard Argent |
| Contributors: | Alfred Jules Ayer; Peter Barnes; C Granville; J Mackinnon; H Matovu; M McCrum |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Eton College; Learning; Philosophy; Atheism |
| Footage description: | Film of the exterior of Eton school and of students entering the school. To camera Ayer briefly says when he was at Eton. Over stills of Ayer and of his book Language, Truth and Logic, Barnes outlines Ayer's career and describes the kind of education he received at Eton. Brief shots of boys at the school. Over brief shots of the school, Barnes explains that the rest of the programme will comprise a talk between Ayer, the headmaster of Eton and four sixth-formers. The discussion mainly takes the form of Ayer answering questions put to him by the students. Initially, they question him on his views of his education at Eton and its relevance to his later career. Much of the discussion concentrates on Ayer's atheism and its possible origins in the religious routine at Eton. Ayer describes reactions to Eton to his "militant atheism." Ayer also talks about the relevance of literature to philosophy and his political beliefs. Shots of Eton students leaving the school, over which are credits. |
| Master spool number: | HOU3439 |
| Production number: | FOUE028K |
| Videofinder number: | 516 |
| Available to public: | no |
