Master the Medieval Art of Knowing Yourself

The Seven Deadly Sins are often dismissed as a list of religious prohibitions, but medieval historian Peter Jones reveals they were originally something much more profound: a practical guide to self-knowledge. Drawing on centuries of medieval thought, he explains how concepts like pride, envy and sloth were understood as recurring patterns of human behaviour rather than moral failings, offering people a structured way to examine themselves with honesty and compassion.

In conversation with Dave Musgrove, Jones explores why confession functioned as a form of psychological reflection, how medieval thinkers anticipated many modern ideas about wellbeing, and why learning to recognise our own blind spots may be one of history's most enduring life lessons.

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