Human beings are social beings, and we all belong to groups and flocks. This is good to remind ourselves of in the modern capitalist age, when individualism is cherished and we are said to be the architects of our own success. That may be comforting if we succeed in life, but not if we fail and are left to blame only ourselves. It is good, then, to belong to a group or flock. Even competitors in the ongoing Winter Olympic Games in Italy, where extraordinary individual and small-team achievements are celebrated, rely on others. Those standing on the victory podium could only reach that point with the support and encouragement of many people behind them. The same applies to Nobel Prize winners. Prizes may be awarded to individuals, and sometimes organisations, but they are always made possible by the groups and networks surrounding those recognised for extraordinary achievements.

Man gets death sentence for killing father-in-law

We also know that when things go wrong, shortcomings and wrongdoing are often rooted in larger groups, not only in individuals. That is useful to remember now, as many individuals are being shamed following the US Department of Justice’s release of thousands of Jeffrey Epstein files, with more reportedly to come, whether authentic or doctored.

Prominent figures have been named in the Epstein files from politics, diplomacy, royalty and international organisations, including in my home country, Norway, and in the United Kingdom, where the country’s ambassador to the USA has resigned, along with the Prime........

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