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The Infinite Monkey Cage

Is There Room for Mysticism in a Rational World?

The Infinite Monkey Cage

BBC

Comedy, Science

4.79.4K Ratings

🗓️ 27 June 2011

⏱️ 30 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Glastonbury Special

Radio 4's award winning science/comedy show hits Glastonbury to prove that science really is the new rock n roll. Brian Cox and Robin Ince are joined on stage by musicians Billy Bragg and Graham Coxon, comedian Shappi Khorsandi, and scientist Professor Tony Ryan to bring their own brand of rationality and reason to Glastonbury's most hardened new-age followers.

Producer: Alexandra Feachem.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is a download from the BBC.

0:02.2

To find out more, visit bbc.co.uk-radio4.

0:31.0

This isn't very radio4, is it?

0:34.0

Who's here for Parts Called Physics?

0:37.0

Yeah, this is the kind of thing that we need.

0:40.0

A quantum chromodynamics.

0:42.0

Oh, a lot more over that side. That's quite interesting.

0:46.0

Because we're at Glastonbury, we have erected a great rational tent.

0:50.0

A solitary place within which the light of reason can burn safely

0:55.0

amongst the smoldering rubble of the Enlightenment

0:58.0

strewn across the muddy fields outside.

1:01.0

My only worry is what they're going to do with that giant wicker Einstein

1:04.0

that they're building out the front.

1:06.0

So, where better to discover science than bouncing on a ley line?

1:10.0

For this reason, Brian is wearing an azureite crystal,

1:13.0

traditionally the crystal worn to enhance rationalism.

1:18.0

So, today we ask, is there room for mysticism in a rational world?

1:24.0

OK, we'll take a vote early on, who says yes?

1:27.0

Who says no?

1:30.0

Wow, the elves are in.

1:32.0

Don't forget the wicker Einstein outside.

1:35.0

To help us come to some conclusion, we have our largest panel yet.

...

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