Monday, July 15, 2019

The Right Side of History: How Reason and Moral Purpose Made the West Great by Ben Shapiro


5 out of 5 stars  *****

Ben Shapiro writes and narrates an intelligent, logical book on Western Civilization, in particular, America, and expounds why it offers the best human experience, to date. He astutely refers to its origins stemming from Jerusalem and Greece, moral philosophy and scientific reasoning. 

The world and its societies weather the tyranny of barbarous tribes, brutal conquests from foreign foes, and cultures ruled by classes who dictate lifetime status. Order by control achieves privilege for the elite few but freedom and liberty are not in the majority of such systems. A society that impedes growth for its citizens exists to service those who work hard to maintain their self-absorbed lives and distort their view of themselves against the rest of humanity. Pride corrupts as cruelty becomes a norm. 

Shapiro explains without the morality taught in early writings, scriptures from the Jews and the Gospels from the Christians, people would not know their unalienable, God-given rights that include freedom and liberty. Right and wrong have a clear distinction in such societies but it takes time to change, slavery being a prime example. 

The author also points to the logical, scientific reasoning of the Greek culture as fundamental and necessary in the Western Civilization formula. Laws, governments, trade, prosperity skyrocket within a framework of freedom and liberty. Obstacles to fair and just societies are the inherent flaws in mankind's nature. Greed, jealousy, pride, power, and wealth drive people to pursue selfish goals, not ones taught by Judeo-Christian principles. 

Great societies thrive with logical, fair and just laws, considerate of all people, that a moral compass guides. This is the foundation upon which America rests. It is why America is the greatest society to ever exist, thus far, but it is tenuous considering the evil in the world and the sinful nature of mankind.

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