Heroism in Liberal Democracy – A Controversial Idea?

Lecture on November 15, 2024

Critics and opponents of liberal democracy frequently disparage it by accusing it of weakness and decadence. They claim that Western societies are no longer willing to make sacrifices and have lost any sense of nation, honor, or heroism. Beyond these politically motivated slurs, academic descriptions of "post-heroic societies" suggest that the military, military service, and the will to fight have become questionable, with the narrative of peaceful conflict resolution prevailing.

Today’s geopolitical landscape is marked by conflicts and wars, where pacifist, liberal-egalitarian forces clash with heroic, aggressive-authoritarian ones. Does this mean that liberal democratic societies must return to an ideal of combat readiness and willingness to sacrifice in order to defend themselves and their values? How can the concept of "re-heroization" be imagined? This lecture explores these questions and offers reflections on the controversial idea of a new kind of heroism.