How Should We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture Summary & Key Insights

Francis Schaeffer's "How Should We Then Live?" isn't a narrative with a plot and characters in the traditional sense. Instead, it's a historical and philosophical survey tracing the development of Western thought and culture from the ancient Greeks to the 20th century, arguing that the decline of Western civilization stems from a rejection of Christian presuppositions. Schaeffer doesn't feature individuals as "characters" but rather analyzes the ideas of key thinkers and movements. Plato, Augustine, the Reformation thinkers, and Enlightenment figures like Rousseau and Kant are key players in his narrative, represented not by their personal stories, but by their contributions to the dominant worldview of their era.

The book's "plot" is the unfolding of Western thought, progressing through distinct phases: the early Greek emphasis on reason and the development of a humanistic worldview; the infusion of Christianity which, according to Schaeffer, provided a robust framework for a flourishing society; the rise of medieval scholasticism; and the fracturing of this framework during the Renaissance and Reformation. The Enlightenment, a pivotal moment in Schaeffer's analysis, is presented as the crucial turning point where a rejection of the Christian worldview, particularly its emphasis on a transcendent God and absolute truth, began to erode the foundations of Western society.

The Enlightenment's emphasis on autonomy and human reason, while initially positive, gradually led to what Schaeffer sees as a progressive devaluation of human life, culminating in nihilism and relativism. He argues that the subsequent movements of Romanticism, Marxism, and existentialism, though distinct, share a common thread: a lack of a unifying, transcendent worldview, ultimately leading to a crisis of meaning and value. Schaeffer traces how this decline manifests in art, architecture, literature, and social structures. He highlights the shift from a worldview grounded in a belief in absolute truth and inherent human dignity to one characterized by skepticism, relativism, and a loss of a unifying framework.

The overarching theme is the crucial role of a Christian worldview in shaping a just and flourishing society. Schaeffer contends that the rejection of this worldview, particularly its emphasis on the nature of humanity, the authority of Scripture, and the existence of absolute truth, has led to the moral and cultural decay he observes. His analysis isn't simply a condemnation of modern society; rather, it's a call to rediscover and reclaim the principles that, he believes, once underpinned a thriving Western civilization. The book ultimately argues for a return to a biblical perspective as the basis for a renewed and meaningful life and society.