The History of the Western Enlightenment – And Why It Matters Today

In this powerful and timely talk, Yaron Brook explores the true meaning and enduring value of Western civilization—tracing its roots from the Renaissance and Enlightenment to the principles that gave rise to science, individual liberty, and unprecedented human progress. Challenging the myths of multicultural relativism and confronting both external threats and internal self-doubt, the speech makes a passionate case for why Western civilization must be understood, celebrated, and defended. This is a compelling defense of the ideas that have shaped the modern world—and a call to stand up for the culture of reason, freedom, and human dignity.This talk was delivered on April 29, 2025 at Northwood University.Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/@YaronBrook/joinLike what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTxBecome a sponsor to get exclusive access and help create more videos like this: https://www.patreon.com/YaronBrookShowOr make a one-time donation: https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJContinue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )Check out my top picks for movies, music, books and more. Click Yaron's Favorites at the top of my website https://www.YaronBrookShow.com or click https://discord.gg/VqqhAqQ2n6 to find all my top choices!Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.