The Reith Lectures Aren't they all evil?
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Dec 3, 2024 Gwen Adshead, a seasoned forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist with nearly 40 years of experience, tackles the complex nature of evil in her talk. She distinguishes between evil and mental illness, suggesting that the capacity for both exists within all of us. Adshead emphasizes the importance of emotional education in preventing violence and discusses the societal implications of labeling individuals as 'evil.' By exploring the roots of rage and the role of faith in rehabilitation, she advocates for compassion and a deeper understanding of violent behavior.
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Capacity for Evil
- People who commit evil acts ask if their actions define them.
- Dr. Adshead argues that everyone has the capacity for evil.
Broadmoor Fire Reportage
- Media focused on past violent residents when Broadmoor Hospital caught fire.
- They ignored the firefighters and the successfully rehabilitated patients.
Ordinariness of Evil
- Ordinary people can descend into evil states of mind.
- Poet W.H. Auden describes evil as unspectacular and always human.