Ben Shapiro Defends Western Civilization in Discussion with Stephen A. Smith
In a recent, widely discussed interview, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro expressed a strong defense of Western civilization, insisting that its foundational values remain crucial to the trajectory of modern society. Speaking with television personality and sports analyst Stephen A. Smith, Shapiro emphasized the unique blend of Biblical morality and Greek rationalism, which he described as the enduring core of Western cultural and institutional development.
Throughout the conversation, Shapiro underscored both the strengths and flaws of Western civilization but framed its legacy as one of unprecedented prosperity, freedom, and progress. His remarks sparked renewed debate about the trajectory of cultural values, historical interpretation, and the role of tradition in shaping future generations.
Shapiro’s Argument for Western Civilization
When posed with the question of whether Western civilization still merits preservation or whether it should be dismantled, Shapiro’s response was definitive: Western civilization, he said, “needs to be upheld and strengthened.” For him, the narrative of Western history is not about perfection but about the continuing refinement of a framework that enabled humanity to achieve remarkable advancements.
Shapiro articulated his definition of Western civilization as “the tension between Jerusalem and Athens.” By this, he meant that Judeo-Christian values — encompassing moral law, ethical responsibility, and a conception of human dignity — combined with Greek philosophical reason to form a unique, sustaining cultural foundation. According to him, this interplay has driven some of humanity’s most significant leaps forward, from the Renaissance and the Enlightenment to the articulation of rights-based governance.
He pointed to core accomplishments associated with Western thought: representative government, freedom of speech, individual rights, private property, free-market economics, and scientific innovation. For Shapiro, these were not the results of chance but of a distinctive intellectual tradition that carefully wove together moral imperatives with rational inquiry.
Addressing Historical Controversies
Shapiro did not claim that the history of Western civilization is without blemishes. He acknowledged that it has “dark places” and moments of violence, oppression, and contradiction. Slavery, colonialism, and systemic exclusions all form part of its record. However, his framing suggested that the persistence of self-critique and reform within Western tradition enabled continuous correction and renewal.
In his view, it is precisely because Western societies embraced debate, dissent, and reasoned structures of accountability that they were able to move beyond entrenched injustices. He argued that this capacity for self-revision stands in contrast to civilizations that, historically, did not offer the same institutionalized mechanisms for change.
Historical Context of Western Civilization
The idea of Western civilization as a fusion of Judeo-Christian values and Greco-Roman rationalism is not unique to Shapiro but resonates with scholarship reaching back generations. Historically, the values of Ancient Greece — reason, inquiry, and democratic deliberation — influenced the intellectual foundations of societies that followed. Roman law provided a legal framework that underpinned later political institutions.
Meanwhile, the spread of Christianity throughout Europe imbued moral and spiritual dimensions into governance, literature, philosophy, and social practice. The notion of individual dignity, rooted in Biblical teachings, deeply shaped concepts of human rights and societal obligations.
Shapiro’s framing emphasizes milestones such as:
- The Renaissance, when rediscovery of classical learning reinvigorated art, science, and political thought.
- The Enlightenment, which propelled reason, empirical science, and revolutionary ideas of liberty and equality.
- Modern constitutional governance, which incorporated ancient principles of law but infused them with contemporary conceptions of democracy and representation.
By spotlighting these historical turning points, Shapiro suggested that Western civilization functions less as a static heritage and more as an evolving dialogue between religious values and rational freedom.
Economic and Social Impact of Western Traditions
One of the strongest claims made in defense of Western civilization rests on its role in creating prosperity and technological advancement. The spread of free-market economies, rooted in concepts of property rights and enterprise, has often been linked with Western thought. Nations that adopted these models, particularly during the Industrial Revolution, saw surging standards of living and the acceleration of global commerce.
Shapiro’s defense mirrors this historical analysis. Western systems of law cultivated secure contracts, enforceable rights, and the predictability necessary for industries to flourish. Simultaneously, the space for scientific reasoning and innovation sparked breakthroughs from medicine to engineering that reshaped the modern world.
While critics point out that industrial expansion was frequently intertwined with exploitation and empire, many historians note that the economic infrastructures of the West eventually seeded the global economy as we know it today. Shapiro grounds his argument in this long-term outcome, pointing to current freedoms and prosperity as evidence of a civilization worth preserving.
Comparisons with Other Regional Traditions
In framing his case, Shapiro indirectly invites comparison with non-Western civilizations. Asian societies, for example, developed rich traditions in philosophy, governance, and science independent of Western influence. Confucian principles in East Asia stressed harmony, hierarchy, and moral governance, shaping longstanding cultural and political systems. Similarly, Islamic civilizations played pivotal roles in preserving classical knowledge and pioneering developments in mathematics, medicine, and philosophy.
Despite these contributions, Shapiro maintains Western civilization’s distinctive role lay in the sustained integration of morality and reason, leading to systems of freedom and progress that became broadly institutionalized. He suggested that while other civilizations achieved greatness, Western societies uniquely nurtured innovation alongside protection of individual liberty.
Public Reception and Contemporary Debate
Shapiro’s remarks with Smith came at a time when discussions of cultural identity have intensified. Across campuses, intellectual circles, and media platforms, debates swirl over whether Western civilization should be celebrated, critiqued, or even redefined entirely.
Proponents of Shapiro’s perspective argue that calls to “deconstruct” Western civilization often underestimate its capacity for reform and the universal benefits of its core values. They stress that institutions such as free expression, scientific method, and participatory government have extended beyond the West and now serve as global frameworks.
Critics, however, caution against what they view as an overly triumphant narrative. They argue that celebrating Western tradition without adequately addressing its darker history risks marginalizing other cultural contributions and overlooking the harm caused during centuries of conquest and exclusion.
Shapiro’s Intellectual Background
The exchange also drew renewed attention to Shapiro’s book The Right Side of History, in which he traces Western values from Biblical origins through philosophical refinement to present-day societies. In his writing, he often argues that detachment from Judeo-Christian values and rational inquiry leads to social fragmentation and moral uncertainty.
His insistence on the “tension between Jerusalem and Athens” reflects this enduring theme in his career — the idea that balance, not dominance of one over the other, is the cornerstone of civilizational strength.
The Broader Global Relevance
As nations navigate rapid technological change, religious pluralism, and shifting power balances, the future of Western values remains a pressing question. Shapiro’s defense resonates with those who see constitutional freedoms and rational inquiry as bulwarks against authoritarianism, cultural fragmentation, and economic instability.
Globally, many emerging democracies continue to draw inspiration from Western models of governance and law, even as they adapt them to local traditions. The debate raised by Shapiro highlights the extent to which questions about identity, heritage, and direction remain at the forefront of public discourse not only in the United States but across the world.
Conclusion: A Debate That Resonates Beyond the Interview
Ben Shapiro’s defense of Western civilization during his interview with Stephen A. Smith underscores an enduring dialogue about history, values, and the future. By emphasizing the synthesis of Biblical morality and Greek reason, he framed the tradition as a foundation for prosperity and freedom that, despite flaws, merits both preservation and renewal.
The conversation reflects broader social questions: how societies remember their histories, what values they carry forward, and how those values guide future generations. Whether hailed as a defense of enduring principles or challenged as an incomplete narrative, the discussion illustrates the enduring relevance of Western civilization as both an idea and a lived reality for billions worldwide.