Too much of a good thing? How much should laws limit our freedom?

For centuries the answer was clear: adultery, homosexuality and usury were wrong because God and the holy books said so. But in a world that refuses to be bound by priestly diktats and medieval social norms, how do we know where to draw the legal lines? Theoretically it seems simple enough, grant people maximum freedom until their choices infringe on those of others, but no man's an island so what about fentanyl, vaccines and egg sandwiches on the underground?

Should we trust in the wisdom of crowds to elect the best leaders and enact the best laws? The courts don't think so, invoking their powers to reign in Trump and prevent far- right candidates standing in European elections. And shouldn't some law reforms should be off limits regardless of how many people sign the petition?

How secular are our legal systems anyway? Doesn't supporting the weak and marginalised sound a little New Testament, couldn't we just as easily prune the dead wood and prioritise the survival of the fittest? Are legal precedents the distilled discrimination of a generation many people would like to see cancelled or do long dead white men have something meaningful to add to the modern debate?

Join us to discuss how to encourage individual freedoms without degenerating into a dystopian "purge".

We invite participants to share their views in short, up to 5-minute statements, followed by an open discussion where we’ll discuss these questions in more detail. Whether you have a philosophical background or are simply curious about the topic, this is an opportunity to share your opinions.