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Free Thinking at the Hay Festival: Responsibility

The judge Baroness Hale, author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry, former Downing Street director of communications Guto Harri and philosopher Simon Critchley at Hay festival.

Freedom is one of the leading values of our society. But with freedom comes responsibility, which is a much more contested principle. Deciding where responsibility lies, and what it means to take it, is the job of the courts. It is also debated in Parliament and in the media. It is often at issue on the psychotherapist鈥檚 couch. For Radio 4鈥檚 arts and ideas discussion programme, Shahidha Bari gathers a panel of experts who deal with the concept of responsibility in very different contexts. Recorded in front of an audience at the Hay Festival, Shahidha's guests are:

Baroness Hale served as the most senior judge in the UK. Her books include Spider Woman, and With the Law on Our Side
Psychotherapist and artist Philippa Perry. Her books include The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read, How to Stay Sane and now a crime novel Shrink Solves Murder
Philosopher Simon Critchley. His books include On Mysticism, Tragedy: The Greeks and Us, and What We Think About When We Think About Football
Former Downing Street Director of Communications Guto Harri

Producer: Luke Mulhall

Release date:

57 minutes

On radio

Fri 29 May 2026 21:00

Broadcast

  • Fri 29 May 2026 21:00

The Arts & Ideas Podcast

The Arts & Ideas Podcast

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