Richard David Precht and Philipp Blom discuss the decline of Enlightenment values

In a new episode of the ZDF program “Precht,” philosopher Richard David Precht and historian Philipp Blom examine the potential decline of Enlightenment values and the stability of liberal democracies.

Blom warns that Western societies face threats as democracies crumble due to a retreat of rationality and the rise of conspiracy theories. He compares democracy to a game where participants only follow the rules if they perceive them as fair. According to Blom, doubt in Enlightenment foundations grows when liberal democracies fail to deliver prosperity or demonstrate the ability to reform.

The discussion explores whether the current era is characterized by an irrational shift toward emotionality and whether the ideals of emancipation, self-liberation, and reason are becoming obsolete in a society that has lost its optimism for the future.