Episode details

Radio 4,03 Dec 2024,58 mins
Available for over a year
In her second Reith Lecture, Dr Gwen Adshead asks if there鈥檚 such a thing as 鈥渆vil.鈥? In a career spanning nearly 40 years the forensic psychiatrist has heard many of her patients ask: 鈥 I have done evil things but does that make me evil.鈥? Dr Adshead says that we have often confused 鈥渆vil鈥 with mental illness. She argues that we all have capacity for 鈥渆vil鈥 and says we need to find ways to cultivate societal and individual 鈥済oodness.鈥 The programme is recorded at the V&A in Dundee in front of an audience. The Reith Lectures are presented and chaired by Anita Anand. Producer: Jim Frank Editor: Clare Fordham
Programme Website