A C Grayling talks to Stephen Law

Philosopher Professor A C Grayling looks at the state of our public culture and the chilling effect it is having on intellectual discourse.

Grayling looks back in history to find out why we can’t seem to talk about anything these days without provoking online furore including internet pile-ons, publication of people’s private information, job loss and even death. Grayling looks at the history of cancellation from Ancient Greek ostracism to hemlock cups, witch trials and the House of Un-American Activities And he searches for a middle ground amid the incendiary debate.

Grayling is founder and principal of New College of the Humanities and a well-known public intellectual. His books include The God Argument, Democracy and Its Crisis, The History of Philosophy, The Good State and The Frontiers of Knowledge. Here he talks to Dr Stephen Law, a philosopher and academic, author of bestselling introductions to philosophy for adults and children, editor of the Royal Institute of Philosophy Journal Think, and the festival’s major projects director.