Summary

In "The Right Side of History: How Reason and Moral Purpose Made the West Great," Ben Shapiro embarks on an intellectual journey to diagnose the ills plaguing contemporary Western civilization and to prescribe a path toward recovery. Shapiro identifies two fundamental mysteries: first, why has the West achieved unprecedented levels of prosperity and freedom? And second, why is the West seemingly intent on abandoning the very principles that led to its greatness?

Shapiro posits that the West's success is attributable to a unique synthesis of reason, inherited from ancient Athens, and moral purpose, derived from Judeo-Christian values originating in Jerusalem. This synthesis, he argues, provided a foundation for individual liberty, limited government, and the pursuit of virtue. However, contemporary society is witnessing a rejection of these foundational principles in favor of moral relativism, scientific materialism, and a focus on group identity over individual responsibility.

The book meticulously traces the historical development of Western thought, from the ancient Greeks and the Hebrew Bible to the Enlightenment and the American Founding. Shapiro highlights the contributions of key thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Locke, and the Founding Fathers, emphasizing their commitment to reason, natural law, and individual rights. He contrasts this tradition with alternative philosophies that prioritize collective identity, state control, or subjective experience.

Shapiro argues that the decline of Judeo-Christian values and Greek teleology has led to a crisis of meaning in the West. He critiques various contemporary ideologies, including Marxism, progressivism, and identity politics, for their tendency to undermine individual responsibility, promote social division, and erode faith in reason and objective truth. He warns against the dangers of utopianism, moral relativism, and the pursuit of power for its own sake.

Ultimately, "The Right Side of History" is a call to restore the foundations of Western civilization by reaffirming the importance of reason, moral purpose, individual liberty, and limited government. Shapiro urges readers to embrace the intellectual and spiritual heritage of the West, to defend its values against those who seek to undermine them, and to transmit these values to future generations. He advocates for a return to the principles that made the West great, arguing that this is the only way to ensure its continued flourishing and to secure a future of freedom, prosperity, and meaning for all.