The Real Thing

1983-11-01 Documentary 8.333

Asking how you tell what's real and what isn't sounds like an obvious question. But in this series of six programmes, James Burke shows that the more you think about it the harder it is to answer. After all, what have you got, apart from your five senses, to prove those senses are giving you the real thing?

Storyline

First Aired

1983-11-01
Last Aired

1983-12-06
Creator

James Burke
Genre

Documentary
Seasons

1
Episodes

6
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

BBC Two

Keywords:

philosophy time memory perception

Stream and watch The Real Thing

Season 1

1. The Private Eye

James Burke employs a detective to illustrate how the senses pick up clues from the outside world, how...More

James Burke employs a detective to illustrate how the senses pick up clues from the outside world, how the brain solves the mystery and decides what is out there. Illustrates how easy it is to fool the best detective and asks: 'What is reality?'Less

21mins 1983-11-01

2. This Way Up

James Burke goes to the top of the Blackpool Tower and turns upside down to discover how the ears talk...More

James Burke goes to the top of the Blackpool Tower and turns upside down to discover how the ears talk to the eyes and how we know which way is downLess

21mins 1983-11-08

3. Time Out of Mind

In order to answer the question 'When is reality?' James Burke finds himself in a Salvador Dali-like l...More

In order to answer the question 'When is reality?' James Burke finds himself in a Salvador Dali-like landscape and examines what motivates man, why light can never stand still and why one man's 'now' can be another man's 'then'Less

21mins 1983-11-15

4. The Memory Lingers On

From the stage set of 'The Mousetrap', James Burke examines the memory and asks: does it stay the same...More

From the stage set of 'The Mousetrap', James Burke examines the memory and asks: does it stay the same, how does it influence everyday actions and is the script for the future already written - from memory?Less

21mins 1983-11-22

5. The View from Within

Looks at the complexity of the brain handling the simplest activity. James Burke's consciousness steps...More

Looks at the complexity of the brain handling the simplest activity. James Burke's consciousness steps out of his body for a while to demonstrate how it acts as 'Mission Controller' for his own private universe.Less