Brainchild of philosopher, author, artist and founder of the Institute of Art and Ideas Hilary Lawson, the HowTheLightGetsIn philosophy and music festival recently enjoyed its 3rd year on the grounds of Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath on the 21st and 22nd of September 2024. SAF founder Clifford White and colleague Yumnah Isaacs had the opportunity of attending the festival. Here they reflect upon 'how the light gets in'…
There’s something potent about the marriage of philosophy and music. Although they may initially appear to be incompatible bedfellows, great thinkers and philosophers of the past have often retreated into the music of their favourite composers to ponder their philosophical conundrums. Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher, had a deep admiration for classical music, especially the works of Richard Wagner, and Ludwig Wittgenstein, one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century, was a devoted music lover, often seeking solace and clarity in his music when grappling with complex problems. And perhaps unbeknownst to many, one of the greatest physicists and influential thinkers of our time Albert Einstein was an avid violinist, drawing inspiration from the works of composers such as Mozart and Beethoven, especially praising the mathematical beauty of Mozart's compositions, within which he perceived a reflection of the order and harmony he sought in the laws of physics. With these relationships in mind, we were keen to visit this year’s HowTheLightGetsIn festival and explore these relationships for ourselves.
Impressively constructed on the grounds of Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath and visually evoking an almost bohemian Disneyworld, at first glance the tents and stalls that had suddenly materialised where only turf had existed mere days before quickened the pulse, sparking an anticipation of the discoveries that might await us. Upon entering the event, an impressive 60-page festival programme offered a plethora of both familiar and unknown faces and intriguing topics to indulge every serious thinker’s fantasy: from lectures, think-tanks and discussions on philosophy, economics, cosmology and astrophysics, to culture, the environment, social politics and much more, all essentially focusing on exploring what the festival referred to as the ‘big ideas’ of our time. Catching a brief interview with Hilary Lawson, show organiser and figurehead of the event, we asked how this particular ‘big idea’ began in the first place…
“HowTheLightGetsIn started over a decade ago in Hay-on-Wye. At the time, philosophy was seen by the public as something obscure and irrelevant, while academics focused on technical issues like the meaning of words and language. I found this odd because philosophy is about big ideas - questions we all face, like "What should I do with my life?" or "What should others be doing?" We’re all philosophers in that sense, so I thought it was a cultural mistake to avoid these questions.”
“We decided to gather people to discuss these big ideas, even though many doubted anyone would attend a philosophy festival. But 50 people came to that first event, and it quickly grew. Now, thousands come, and our online reach has expanded to millions of viewers. What draws people, including leading thinkers, isn’t money. They come because they value discussing big topics with others, which is often hard to find even in their academic circles.” – Hilary Lawson, festival organiser.
Indeed, discussion was very much at the forefront of the festival. More than 100 renowned thinkers and luminaries populated the speaker’s roster, including household names such as the Nobel prize-winning physicist Roger Penrose, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and actress, comedian and television personality Ruby Wax, amongst other lesser-known names punching no less weight. Debate topics touched on a wide range of deep philosophical, scientific, and societal questions, grappling with fundamental uncertainties that define our understanding of the world. From The Rise and Fall of the Grand Narrative, which explored how humanity’s overarching belief systems have evolved from religious certainty to a reliance on science and progress, to Quantum and the Unknown Universe, where the paradoxes of quantum mechanics were considered, emphasizing how science has pushed the boundaries of what we can predict or know.
For us, the standout lecture The World as One presented by University of Oxford philosopher Dr Jessica Frazier was especially engaging, exploring key philosophical themes across cultures, from Indian classical theories of Being to twentieth-century phenomenology. And these were just three of a cornucopia of intellectually stimulating topics, blending philosophy, science, politics, and culture, the festival effectively grappled with fundamental questions about the human experience, the nature of reality, and the complexities of contemporary society.
“Our aim is to stay at the edge of cultural and intellectual thought, constantly questioning and looking for alternatives, rather than following a fixed path. This is what universities should be doing, but they often aren’t due to certain cultural issues within academia. We try to fill that gap, tackling contentious topics in a careful, considered way. Although it can be a high-wire act, we've managed to avoid controversy while engaging people in thoughtful discussions. Ultimately, we're here to push forward meaningful conversations about life’s most important ideas.” – Hilary Lawson, festival organiser.
Debates and talks were just one aspect of the festivals allure, which also featured performances from a variety of musical artists including Alexis Taylor, the Grammy and Mercury-nominated voice of Hot Chip, Sam and the Womp, a multi-platinum UK band known for their energetic performances, the BBC Music Award winner Rae Morris and a wide selection of singer-songwriters and producers performing a variety of genres throughout the two days of the festival, and well into the evening.
For Yumnah and I however, whilst HowTheLightGetsIn was a superb event, it was also a strange mix that upon reflection didn’t entirely hit the spot. Whilst the talks were intriguing, without an acknowledgement of the existence of spirituality, debates often ended with the perhaps inevitable conclusion of ‘we just don’t know’, leaving us somewhat wanting. Perhaps our experience is much like anyone who embraces science whilst shunning the spiritual, as without an exploration of the mystical or the ineffable, no final conclusion may ever be reached.
And the musical performances, whilst at times quite beatific and atmospheric in the Autumn sunshine, bore no relationship with the debates and conversations that surrounded them. It was almost as if two separate festivals had collided on Hampstead Heath and agreed to co-habit. It would have been intriguing to have explored those elusive places where music and philosophy connect and intersect, but that wasn’t addressed, and it felt like a missed opportunity.
Nevertheless, the sheer scale and ambition of the festival, it’s professionalism and varied content made it an innovative and one-of-a-kind experience. Even after a decade of existence, the festival continues to be a bold and noble endeavour, entertaining, exciting and expertly staged. We sincerely hope it continues its successful run for many more years to come.
For more information about the festival, please visit https://howthelightgetsin.org/.
Read more articles by Clifford White.
