Main content

Jonathan Sumption: Don't Apologise

Four Thought Series 2

Jonathan Sumption discusses the concept of inherited guilt, and argues that there are serious moral objections to apologising today for historical events.

Judge and historian Jonathan Sumption discusses modern apologies for historical events.

Starting with Tony Blair's apology for the Irish potato famine and Pope John Paul II's 94 such apologies, he argues that the trend is turning into a tide.

He argues that such apologies rely on a concept of inherited guilt, and asks whether the benefits ever outweigh the serious moral and philosophical objections.

Producer: Giles Edwards.

Available now

15 minutes

Last on

Sun 8 May 2011 05:45
Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Christina Patterson: Care to be a Nurse?Series 2

Next

Johann Hari: Dying for a New PhoneSeries 2

See all episodes from Four Thought

Broadcasts

  • Wed 4 May 2011 20:45
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4
  • Sun 8 May 2011 05:45
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.

The Best of Four Thought

Explore some of the best programmes from Radio 4's Four Thought

Change a light bulb, check your emails...

What can you do in 4 minutes? Join us in some intelligent time wasting.

Seriously...

Seriously...

Discover seriously interesting documentaries from Radio 4.

Podcast

  • Four Thought

    Series of thought-provoking talks on topics that affect culture and society.