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Heart vs Mind: What Makes Us Human?

David Malone asks if we are right to see the heart as merely a brilliant pump or whether it should be allowed to reclaim something of its old place at the centre of our humanity.

The heart is the most symbolic organ of the human body. Throughout history it has been seen as the site of our emotions, the very centre of our being. But modern medicine has come to see the heart as just a pump; a brilliant pump, but nothing more. And we see ourselves as ruled by our heads and not our hearts.

In this documentary, filmmaker David Malone asks whether we are right to take this view. He explores the heart's conflicting histories as an emotional symbol and a physical organ, and investigates what the latest science is learning about its structures, its capacities and its role. In the age-old battle of hearts and minds, will these new discoveries alter the balance and allow the heart to reclaim something of its traditional place at the centre of our humanity?

1 hour

Last on

Thu 2 Jun 2016 00:30
BBC Four

Clips

See all clips from Heart vs Mind: What Makes Us Human? (2)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Robert McDuffie & Houston Symphony

    Concerto for Violin and Orchestra: I. Quarter Note = 104-120

    • Violin Concertos of John Adams & Philip Glass.
    • Telarc Classical.

  • Ludovico ascolta [SIAE]

    Uno

    • Divenire.
    • Decca.
    • 01.

  • Philip Glass

    Metamorphosis 2

    Artist: Philip Glass

    • Philip Glass - Solo Piano.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 02.

  • Max Richter

    A Sudden Manhattan Of The Mind

    Artist: Max Richter [PRS]

    • 24 Postcards In Full Colour.
    • Fatcat Records.

  • Max Richter

    Harmonium

    Composer: Max Richter [PRS]

    • Songs from before.
    • Fatcat Records.
    • 4.

  • Ludovico Einaudi

    Fly

    • Divenire.
    • Decca.
    • 09.

  • Ludovico Einaudi

    Ascolta

    • Divenire.
    • Decca.
    • 04.

  • Sigur Rós

    Ba Ba

    • Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do.
    • EMI Records.

  • Tasmin Little/Martin Roscoe

    Spiegel Im Spiegel

    Composer: Arvo Pärt

    • Remasterpiece.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 19.

  • Max Richter

    Landscape with figure (1922)

    Composer: Max Richter [PRS]

    • Memoryhouse.
    • Fat Cat Records.

Credits

Presenter David Malone
Executive Producer Marcus Herbert
Producer David Briggs
Director David Briggs

Broadcasts

  • Tue 10 Jul 2012 21:00
    BBC Four
  • Wed 11 Jul 2012 02:20
    BBC Four
  • Wed 11 Jul 2012 21:00
    BBC HD
  • Thu 12 Jul 2012 23:10
    BBC Four
  • Sat 14 Jul 2012 22:30
    BBC HD
  • Wed 29 Jan 2014 01:00
    BBC Four
  • Thu 2 Jun 2016 00:30
    BBC Four