Recording of the debate at Battle of Ideas 2017 (https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/safety-first/)

The ‘safety first’ outlook, intending to keep us safe by imagining the worst, risks increasing our sense of existential insecurity. Always anticipating catastrophe may mean over-reacting, especially in the fields of science, health and technology. We have become the victims of scaremongering over theoretical risks – from mobile phone radiation or the latest strain of flu, even from familiar foods such as sugar and salt.

Has safety become an aim in itself, divorced from a common-sense assessment of risk? Does the desire to eliminate all danger undermine individual freedom? Is it time to confront the dangers of our ‘safety first’ society?

SPEAKERS

Richard Angell

Terry Barnes

Professor Bill Durodié

Dr Clare Gerada

Lenore Skenazy