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The Real Thing

The Real Thing

★ 8.2/10•1980•21m•Documentary
Similars

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?

James Burke · Writer

Mick Jackson · Director

StatusEnded
Runtime21m
LanguageEN
First Air DateMar 20, 1980

Episodes

E121m

The Private Eye

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?'

Mar 20, 1980

E221m

This Way Up

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 down

Nov 8, 1983

E321m

Time Out of Mind

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'

Nov 15, 1983

E421m

The Memory Lingers On

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?

Nov 22, 1983

E521m

The View from Within

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.

Nov 29, 1983

E621m

Life Sentence

James Burke considers whether language is the way in which reality is shared.

Dec 6, 1983

Actors

James Burke

James Burke

Presenter

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Similars

Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness
God, The Bible & Humanity
Maps of Meaning
The Sermon on the Mount
Aristotle: From Logic to Life
Ancient Philosophy
Intro to Nietzsche
The Philosophy of Science
Amour, haine et propagande
The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization
LIFE BEYOND
Time
Churches: How to Read Them
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2005 : État d'urgence
The Night That Didn't End
Unhappy
Life After People: The Series
Sunset in the Golden State
Faster! Humanity's Quest to Save Time