Values of the West

The West once saw itself as the driver of global progress. We were confident that Enlightenment values would guarantee success, uncover knowledge and create progressive social change. But now many are beset with doubt. Critical of our past, we have little faith in the future or in the power of our core beliefs to bring a better world. Is this self-criticism a welcome and less arrogant outlook - a consequence perhaps of Western imperial guilt and relative economic decline? Or should we overcome our doubts and reignite faith in our values and their power to improve lives? Alternatively, can we escape our history to fashion a new set of ideals that we are proud to endorse and which can drive our future success?

Cultural critic and philosopher Raymond Tallis, founder of the first Black Studies university course Kehinde Andrews, and research associate at the Centre for Islamic Studies at SOAS and PhD in Oriental Studies (Oxon.) Myriam Francois question our faith in Western values.