Pulitzer Prize Finalist
The West: Origins, Ideas & Identity
Civilizations rise and fall on the strength of their ideas. Understanding the West’s core principles is key to renewing its future.
Civilizations rise and fall on the strength of their ideas. Understanding the West’s core principles is key to renewing its future.
The Western tradition is more than a geographic boundary—it’s a tapestry of philosophical, religious, and cultural influences that have evolved over millennia. Dr. Herman traces the lineage of core concepts like liberty, reason, and individual rights from ancient Greece and Rome through the Enlightenment to the present day. By exploring how these ideas took root and spread, Herman sheds light on the strengths, flaws, and future prospects of Western revival and renewal. In a time when cultural confidence is waning, understanding the West’s intellectual heritage is vital for renewing its promise of freedom and innovation.
Ancient Foundations
How the ancient Greeks laid the groundwork for rational inquiry, scientific thinking, and democratic governance.
Renewing Western Ideals
From the Reformation and Enlightenment to Marxism and postmodernism, that have tested Western ideals spurred progress—or stifled liberty and freedom.
Reach and Responsibility
Analyzing how Western concepts of freedom, rights, and reason interact with other world civilizations, and why renewal at home is essential.
Morality and Dignity
How religious traditions shaped Western conceptions of human dignity, morality, and the inherent value of the individual.
Virtues and Markets
Exploring how the intertwining of personal virtue and free-market principles gave rise to capitalism and modern prosperity.
The Nordic Spirit
From ancient Vikings to Scandinavian immigration and Nordic superstates, how the culture and peoples of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark Have reshaped history and provide powerful lessons for our collective future.
Interested in having Dr. Arthur Herman speak or consult at your organization, group, or university? Tell us more below!
Scandinavia has always been a world apart. For millennia Norwegians, Danes, Finns, and Swedes lived a remote and rugged existence among the fjords and peaks of the land of the midnight sun. But when they finally left their homeland in search of opportunity, these wanderers—including the most famous, the Vikings—would
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