Does Western Civilisation Exist? James Kierstead on Ancient Greece, Christianity, and the West

Does Western civilisation actually exist — or is it just a modern political myth?

In this episode of the Quillette Cetera podcast, Zoe Booth speaks with classicist James Kierstead about the origins of the West, the “Greek miracle,” Christianity, monogamy, democracy, and the cultural foundations of modern civilisation.

They discuss:

Whether the West is real or an invented concept

Ancient Greece and the origins of egalitarianism

Why monogamy shaped Western civilisation

Protestant guilt and modern culture

Honour cultures vs dignity cultures

Christianity, Judaism, and Greco-Roman civilisation

Why the Industrial Revolution happened in the West

Whether Western civilisation can survive without Christianity

James Kierstead holds a BA in Classics from Oxford and a PhD in Political Science from Stanford University.