 The story is not played out in a traditional setting, but rather against a black backdrop within which the actors and key props are placed, as if in a theatre setting.The film was originally part of a series of 12 films on the life and ideas of the philosopher, produced by Tariq Ali on behalf of Channel Four.Only four scripts got commissioned, "Socrates" by Howard Brenton, "Spinoza" by Tariq Ali, "Locke" by David Edgar and "Wittgenstein" by Terry Eagleton.