If you were to produce a perfect replica of the book, would it still have as much value? Could the owner be tempted to give up the original for the replica?

In the final episode of the series, archaeologist Dr Penny Spikins and philosopher Dr Dorothea Debus explore a children’s book and the personal inscription inside to understand whether certain objects make human beings feel unique.

This book was published in 1991 and was submitted as a cherished object through our online survey. In this episode we explore why it is difficult to let go of certain objects and whether the characteristics of the item gives us a sense of personal uniqueness as its owner.

Be educated, entertained and inspired at the York Festival of Ideas. Find out more at: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com

This episode was originally released in October 2018.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it the stories behind an object which makes it meaningful? Is it the emotion that comes with a story the real value of ‘things’? Dr Penny Spikins and Dr Dorothea Debus inspect a 1950s brooch which contains a special photograph.

Be educated, entertained and inspired at the York Festival of Ideas. Find out more at: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com

This episode was originally released in October 2018.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Penny Spikins and Dr Dorothea Debus discuss an ancient hand axe, on loan to the University of York from the Yorkshire Museum.

It looks like it could be a weapon but in actual fact it is a tool used for cutting meat approximately 70,000 years ago. Aside from its practical application, it was made in a way that was also aesthetically pleasing.

So why would this ancient community care about what a basic cutting tool looked like? One theory is that its pleasing aesthetic demonstrated skill, patience, and knowledge on the part of its maker. In this podcast episode the researchers discuss what this tells us about our human attachments to everyday objects and how it helps us interpret the world we live in today.

Be educated, entertained and inspired at the York Festival of Ideas. Find out more at: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com

This episode was originally released in October 2018.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.