Alexander Rosenthal-Púbal presents and defends the main ideas in his new book, co-authored with Graham James McAleer, The Wisdom of our Ancestors: Conservative Humanism and the Western Tradition.
Read more: Conservative HumanismExploring Conservative Humanism: A Discussion on Tradition, Modernity, and the Future of the West
The latest session of the Classical Forum for Contemporary Issues featured a compelling discussion with Dr. Alexander Rosenthal Pubul on the themes of his recent book, The Wisdom of Our Ancestors: Conservative Humanism and the Western Tradition. The talk examined the intellectual roots of conservatism, the role of humanism in Western civilization, and the current ideological challenges facing liberalism and modernity.
Key discussion points included:
🔹 The Meaning of Conservatism – How conservatism is not simply about politics but about preserving key cultural institutions like religion, family, and education.
🔹 Humanism as the Master Idea of the West – The Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian foundations of Western thought and their role in shaping ideas of human dignity and rights.
🔹 The Crisis of Liberalism – The internal and external challenges to the liberal world order, including cultural self-repudiation and post-humanist trends.
🔹 Religion and Human Rights – A lively debate on whether human dignity and rights can be grounded in secular philosophy or if they require religious underpinnings.
🔹 Modernity and Post-Humanism – The shift from classical humanism toward a technological and materialist worldview, raising questions about meaning, identity, and ethics in a rapidly changing world.
The discussion brought together scholars from diverse perspectives, leading to insightful debates on the role of tradition in contemporary society, the limits of progress, and the nature of human dignity.
What are your thoughts on the balance between tradition and progress? Can we preserve the wisdom of the past while embracing the needs of the future?
Join the conversation in the comments below!