Was George Forster the Enlightenment’s Lost Visionary? With Andrea Wulf

Welcome to Intelligence Squared, where great minds meet. I'm producer Mia Sorenti. Why does some of history's most radical thinkers disappear from view? And what might we learn from a man who challenged the prejudices of his age through travel, science, and a belief in our common humanity? On today's episode, historian and writer Andrea Wolf joins philosopher and historian Sophie Scott Brown to discuss the extraordinary life of George Forster.

An overlooked enlightenment thinker whose ideas feel strikingly relevant today. A naturalist, explorer, and political radical, Forster travelled around the world with Captain Cook as a teenager, before becoming one of the most original and progressive thinkers of his age. Drawing on unpublished correspondence and Forster's journeys across Europe and the Pacific, Wolf traces how his encounters with different cultures challenged the assumptions of eighteenth century Europe. The conversation explores his opposition to slavery, racism and empire, his belief in universal human rights, and the influence of the French Revolution on his political thought. Let's join our host, Sophie Scott Brown, now with more.

Hello, my name is Sophie Scott Brown, and this is Intelligence Squared, and I'm joined today by best selling author Andrea Wolf to discuss her new book, The Traveler, The Revolutionary Life of George Forster, and his search for humanity. Andrea, welcome. It's such a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for having me.

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