Debates

Debates are the beating heart of HowTheLightGetsIn.

Watch Nobel Laureates and influential philosophers face off, and best-selling authors and fiery commentators lock horns, in  debates confronting the questions of our time.

In London we launch our new festival theme Navigating the Unknown. We'll chart a course through the universe, search for the meaning of life, and find peace in a period of conflict with the help of our era's most exciting minds!

 Explore the full programme

 

A stylized depiction of Michelangelo's statue of David, featuring a yellow background and graphic elements, emphasizing the figure's profile and classical features.
New

The Rise and Fall of the Grand Narrative

Konstantin Kisin, David Aaronovitch & Jessica Frazier
Abstract image of translucent bubbles with swirling pink and blue patterns, set against a dark background filled with shimmering particles.

Quantum and the Unknown Universe

Slavoj Žižek, Roger Penrose, Sabine Hossenfelder
A textured world map with an artistic blend of earthy colors, surrounded by various bullet casings, representing themes of conflict and geopolitics.

A Precarious Peace

Malcolm Rifkind, Tariq Ali, Megha Rajagopalan, Bill Browder
An abstract artwork featuring two profiles facing each other, interconnected by swirling patterns of red and blue, symbolizing love and emotion.
New

The Divided Self

Roger Penrose, Sam Harris (VIA ZOOM)
Illustration of multiple hands reaching into a treasure chest overflowing with coins and banknotes, set against a bright yellow background.

Lies, Damned lies, and Economics

Nadhim Zahawi, Gary Stevenson, Daniela Gabor, Abby Innes
An abstract cosmic scene depicting vibrant colors and swirling particles, symbolizing energy and movement within a vast galaxy.
New

Echoes of the Big Bang

Martín López Corredoira, Marika Taylor, Matt O'Dowd
A vibrant, abstract portrait of a human face with psychedelic patterns, featuring bold colors, spirals, and celestial shapes that suggest a cosmic theme.
New

Medicine, Magic and Misunderstanding

John Ioannidis, Sarah Hill & Jacob Stegenga
A mixed-media artwork featuring a large, stylized brain collaged with colorful newspaper clippings and abstract shapes on a vibrant background.
New

The Consciousness Test

Hilary Lawson, Nick Lane, Yoshua Bengio, Sabine Hossenfelder
A stylized illustration of a silhouette of a person surrounded by abstract faces, radiating lines create a halo effect behind them in vibrant colors.
New

The Normal and the Abnormal

Rose Cartwright, Frank Tallis, Dinesh Bughra, Bessel van der Kolk
A stylized globe featuring a vibrant, densely populated cityscape on top, surrounded by small figures representing people, set against a warm orange background.

The Global Population Crisis

Janne Teller, Peter Godfrey-Smith, David Aaronovitch
A vintage clock face overlaid on a faded tree silhouette and musical notes, evoking themes of time and nostalgia.

The Phantom of the Present

Rupert Sheldrake, Timothy Morton, Jo Kavenna
An abstract, colorful artwork featuring distorted facial elements with strong lines and vivid hues of purple, pink, yellow, and blue, evoking emotion and creativity.
New

Girl Power

Clare Chambers, Sarah Hill, Susie Orbach
A person walks along a narrow, winding path atop a tall, abstract structure, surrounded by high walls, evoking themes of introspection and navigation through challenges.

Peril and Progress

Guy Standing, Camila Vegara, Nadhim Zahawi
A vibrant, swirling fractal pattern featuring spirals in hues of pink, purple, and orange, creating a mesmerizing depth and intricate details.

A World of Order and Chaos

Nick Lane, Marika Taylor, Matt O'Dowd
A surreal depiction of a brain resembling a tree, with textured roots and a vibrant green color, set against a misty background.
New

The End of Evolution

Anders Sandberg, Suntra Gupta, Samir Okasha, Peter Godfrey-Smith
A surreal landscape featuring a colorful sunset, silhouette of birds in flight, and a large, dark, abstract hook hanging from chains.
New

The Freedom Fable

Trevor Phillips, Lisa Cameron, Ankhi Mukherjee
A teal safe with its door open, overflowing with gold coins and blue tokens, alongside a tan money bag on a matching surface.
New

Price of Everything, Value of Nothing

Daniel Susskind, Richard Kibble, Will Hutton, Abby Innes
A peeled banana resting on a vibrant purple background, showcasing its yellow skin and curved shape.
New

The Meaning of Sex

Sarah Hill, Finn Mackay, Anders Sandberg
A woman with styled hair adjusts a vintage camera on a tripod, depicted in a blue silhouette against a bright yellow background.
New

Caught in Time

Freya India, Timothy Morton & Marijam Didzgalvyte
A glass globe depicting a world map rests on a background of U.S. dollar bills, suggesting themes of finance and global commerce.
New

Profit, Planet and Pretence

Carla Denyer, Socrates Mokkas, Guy Shrubsole
An astronaut stands on a rocky surface, gazing at a vibrant, colorful planet with swirls of blue and orange in the background.
New

Adventures in Space

Carla Denyer, Socrates Mokkas, Guy Shrubsole
A colorful artwork depicting the Tower of Babel, showcasing biblical figures with divine beings and a huge, unfinished tower. Chaos and confusion among the people are emphasized.

Language Wars

Sandra Laugier, Graham Priest, Babette Babich
An abstract composition featuring fluid shapes and vibrant bubbles in various colors, creating a surreal landscape reminiscent of organic forms and dynamic movement.
New

The Essential Philosophy of Fun

Freya India, James Tartaglia, Myriam Francois
A colorful illustration depicting two ships in turbulent waters, with a submarine in the foreground and a larger vessel in the background, showcasing naval activity.
New

The World at Sea

Simon Jenkins, Duncan Potts, Isabel Hilton
An abstract illustration featuring multiple stylized faces with vibrant colors, emphasizing circular shapes and contrasting eyes, creating a dynamic, expressive composition.
New

The Good, The Bad, The Beautiful

Paul Ernest, Ankhi Mukherjee, Babette Babich, Sarah Wilson
A colorful mosaic depicting a silhouetted figure walking along a winding path, surrounded by a vibrant sunset and scenic landscape.

The Journey in Search of a Destination

Frank Tallis, Babette Babich, Jonathan Webber, Sandra Laugier
A hand reaches out to hold a stylized planet amidst a backdrop of stars and celestial bodies, conveying themes of exploration and wonder in space.

Navigating the Unknown

Jessica Frazier, Graham Priest, Hilary Lawson
Jean-Paul Sartre and James Baldwin are depicted against an abstract colorful background, each with a contemplative expression, highlighting their philosophical and literary contributions.
New

Sartre vs Baldwin

Jonathan Webber, Marie-Elsa Bragg, Jo Kavenna
A vibrant cityscape of Philadelphia at dusk, featuring illuminated skyscrapers and dynamic, flowing light trails representing movement and energy.
New

The Communication Crisis

Julia Hobsbawm, Nolen Gertz, Katie Farrell