Our narratives enable us to make sense of the world. From setting the scene and providing a means to understand what is happening, to placing ourselves at the centre of our own life's story, narratives help structure our goals and our lives. But there is a risk that rather than helping us understand the world, narratives can hide reality from us providing delusional states of mind in its place. From witch hunts to cults, from war propaganda to religious honour killings, people are prepared to kill and die for stories they believe in, that others see as wildly false illusions.
Should we see ourselves as trapped by our narratives as much as we are dependent on them to make sense of the world? Can we avoid becoming absorbed in narratives that are dangerous to ourselves and others? Or is it possible to escape the limitation of our own narratives to see the world as it is, and if so how?
Key member of the Shadow Cabinet Thangham Debbonaire, award-winning author Matthew Beaumont, and renowned poet Ruth Padel, debate how narratives affect our minds.