A PHILOSOPHER is helping people get to grips with the big questions in life by taking to the airwaves.
Grant Bartley, of Gunnersbury Avenue, Acton, began the Philosophy Now radio show about six weeks ago in a bid to get more people interested in how deep thinking can enhance our lives.
The 46-year-old presents the programme every Tuesday from 7pm on Resonance FM, a station which promotes the arts and is funded by the Arts Council.
He said: "As well as being intellectually stimulating, it can help you understand the assumptions behind your own thinking, which gives you an insight into other people's view of the world.
"Socrates was at the beginning of Western philosophy and one of his central questions was 'how should we live'. That's something relative to everybody, everybody wants to know how to be happy, how to get the best out of life."
From the history of philosophy, to ethical issues such as the London riots, the show covers a different aspect each week, with the theory clearly explained, so listeners new to the subject can keep up.
An editor for Philosophy Now magazine for the past six years, Mr Bartley, already tries to introduce more people to philosophy in his day job. He is helped by a passion for the subject, undimmed since he discovered it at university.
The radio show was born after he was invited on a programme for the station as a guest.
He said: "I was asked to talk for about five to ten minutes. I thought 'that's not long enough to talk about philosophy' so I asked what the chances would be of having my own show. They asked me to do a pilot and it went from there.
"I think there are a lot of people who are interested in philosophical issues but are put off by the academic side. I'm trying to make it more accessible, that's what we're trying to do with the magazine and the radio show is an extension of that."
Visit www.resonancefm.com to listen to Mr Bartley's show, which runs until December, or find out more.
