About this video

• Video Title: Sir Terry Pratchett: 'Imagination, not intelligence, made us human'
• Channel: Wheeler Centre
• Speakers: Michael Williams, Sir Terry Pratchett, Rob (uncredited voice actor)
• Duration: 01:08:26

Overview

This video features a talk by author Sir Terry Pratchett, hosted by Michael Williams at the Wheeler Centre. Pratchett discusses his Discworld novels, the creative process, the role of narrative, and his views on truth, humanity, and societal change. He reads an excerpt from a Discworld novel and answers audience questions on a range of topics, including his influences, his characters, and his perspectives on serious issues like death and assisted suicide.

Key takeaways

• The Power of Narrative: Pratchett emphasizes the importance of story and narrative laws, suggesting that humans are fundamentally shaped by stories and the inherent belief in narrative inevitability.
• Imagination over Intelligence: He posits that imagination, not intelligence, is what defines humanity, highlighting its role in creativity and understanding the world.
• Truth and Palatability: Pratchett believes that truth is often unpalatable and that writers must balance it with narrative to make it accessible to readers.
• Character-Driven Storytelling: His characters, like Sam Vimes and Tiffany Aching, are well-developed and "drive the plot," allowing him to explore complex themes.
• The "Black Mill" of Experience: Pratchett describes a part of his mind that observes life experiences and stores them as material for his writing, even in moments of grief.
• Evolving Societal Views: He observes that societal norms, such as views on homosexuality, change and become normalized over time through generational shifts.
• Humanity and Kindness: A core theme in his work and outlook is the importance of being "excellent to one another," a principle he sees echoed across various cultures and philosophies.

Sir Terry Pratchett describes "Jesus light" as the core ethical teachings attributed to Jesus, such as looking after other people, being a good citizen, and not stealing. He believes these principles are echoed by wise people across all cultures and throughout history. This "Jesus light" relates to being a good citizen by emphasizing kindness, consideration for others, and moral behavior, independent of organized religion or specific dogma.