Has something happened to the ideas of honour, dignity, duty and virtue? Are people less willing to fall on their swords than they used to do? Is it admirable, anyway, to admit defeat?

Political journalist Anthony Howard, author and broadcaster Anne Atkins and journalist Toby Young join Dominic Arkwright to explore the subject through their writing.

Producer: Beatrice Fenton.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2009. Show less