The document discusses the history of values in Europe and the shift between theocentric and humanistic worldviews. It traces the development of key European values like freedom, equality, rule of law, and democracy from ancient Greece to modern times. The values arose gradually through steps like developing humanistic thinking in antiquity, embracing rationality in the Enlightenment, establishing secularity through separation of church and state, and recognizing universal human rights in the 20th century. However, these values have faced threats throughout history from reversions to more theocentric views, and their preservation depends on continued advocacy today.

1. What is the basis of our freedom?The Basic European ValuesA short introduction EuropäischeWerte.info

3. Equality (protection against any form of discrimination, full equality of man and woman, ... )

5. The basisofourfree European societiesareparticularvalues,whicharetheexpressionof a specialworldview. Ifwewanttopreserveourvaluesforfuturegenerations, wehavetoknowthemfirst.

6. European Values? ? Democracy? Greek Philosophy? Roman Law? Human Rights? Reformation? Enlightenment? Antiquity? Freedom? Humanism? Modern Age? Constitutional State? Middle Ages? Christianity? Jewish-Christian Philosophy (Ethics)? Are there even common European values?

7. The history of Europe is characterised by a constant change of values and the according view of the world If people want to understand their values they need to understand history!

8. The historyof Europe ischaracterisedby a repeatedchangebetweentwoworld-views

9. 1.) The theocentricworld-viewwithgodascentralaspecttoexistence

10. 2.) The humanisticworld-viewwith man ascentralaspect.

11. Constantly, one world-view replaces an other one „In theuniversethereisonlyonethingthatmaybeconsideredasconstant: change.‘‘ Heraklit of Ephesus, Greek philosopher (around 540 - 480 B.C.)

12. Change ofworld-views in Europe Before ANTIQUITY Startingpoint: Greecebefore 600 B.C.

13. Historical background: PolytheismbeforeAntiquity Foreverythingunexplainable a particulargod was responsible. Humanswereatgods‘ mercy. Poseidon: Godofthesea, horsesandearthquakes Zeus: Fatherofthegods; lightning, thunderandair Demeter: Mothergodess, Earth godess; fertility Hephaistos: Firegod,godofthe Volcanoes, architectureandsmiths

14. Historical background: (Greek) Antiquity A newwayofthinkingison theway! Insteadofremaining in theroleofpuppets in thehandsofthegods, forthefirst time peopletookovercontroloftheirowndestiny. Individualsrealisedthattheycandevelopandgrow...

17. Starting point of ancient natural science through observation of nature and realising of regularitiesThales ofMiletus624 – 546 B. C. From 600 B. C.

19. Godshadtoleavethepublicandbecame a partofthe private life.From 500 B. C.

20. 4th Step: Rule of law „Lex insteadof Rex“meaningthewrittenlaw(Lex) replacingthearbitrarylawof a King (Rex). Thisleadsto a separationofpowerswithinthe„state“ ! Lex insteadof Rex From 470 B. C.

21. 5th Step: Democracy People starttofightforpoliticalparticipation. AtticDemocracy 462 – 322 B.C. (140 yearsofdemocracy) Pericles495 – 429 B. C. From 462 B. C.

22. 6th Step: Human Rights The ideathatevery human beingpossessesinnaterightsfirstcameup in antiquity. From 330 B. C.

23. Voila - a fullydevelopedhumanisticworld-view Itstartswithgiving a valuetothe individual (Humanisticthinking) andiscompletedbygiving a valueto all human beings (human rights).

24. AncientHumanistic World View The entirehumanisticconceptionoflife was theoreticallyrealisedto a large extent, but practicallyitremainedincomplete.

26. PEAK –Point: The humanisticworld-viewcameupstepbystepandthendeclined in the same way.

27. (1) Human Rights: There was just the idea of basic, innate human rights, but it was never realised.

28. (2) Democracyandthe (3) Ruleof Law declinedstepbystepasthe Roman Republic was transformedinto an Empire. Gaius Iulius Caesar 100 – 44 B. C. 27 B.C.

29. (4)Antique form ofSecularitydisappears:ChristianitybecomesRome‘sstatereligion (380 A.D.) Step by step all other religions (ancient cults) are outlawed. Emperor + Church From380 A.D.

30. (5) Rationality was replacedbyfaithand(6) thefocuschangedfromhumanstogod. Emperor Church World-view in the antiquity From 400 A.D.

31. (5) Rationality was replacedbyfaithand(6) thefocuschangedfromhumanstogod. Emperor + Church World-view in the antiquity From 400 A.D.

32. (5) Rationality was replacedbyfaithand(6) thefocuschangedfromhumanstogod. Medievalworld-view World-view in the antiquity From 400 A.D.

34. For the first time in Europe there was a monotheistic religion in power which caused a uniform theocentric world-view. Nothing (science, …) and nobody was allowed to be or think differently.

35. Christian theocentric world-view

36. European values and religion in medieval times N n

39. Historical Background: Reformation Reformers likeMartin Luther underminewiththeirworkstheexclusiveopinionmakingdominanceofthechurch. Suddenly, thereare alternative interpretationsofgod‘s will and different rulesforbehaviour. Thisenablesthepossibilityfor a non-religiouswayofthinkingbased on rationality. The call for rational rules and laws instead of religious dogmas gets louder and louder. From1517 - 1600 A. D.

40. 2nd Step: Rationality Besides faith rationality becomes a basis for judgement now. From 1640 A. D.

41. Historical background: Enlightenment WhatdoesEnlightenmentmean? Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one's understanding without guidance from another. This immaturity is self-imposed when its cause lies not in lack of understanding, but in lack of resolve and courage to use it without guidance from another. SapereAude! [dare to know] "Have courage to use your own understanding!"--that is the motto of enlightenment. (I. Kant, 1784) Immanuel Kant 1724 - 1804 Oneofthemainclaimsoftheenlightenment was thestrictseparationofreligiousandpoliticalinstitutions.

42. 3rd Step: Secularity Separation of politics and religion. Logical reasoning more and more proves religious dogmas as wrong and pushes religion out of politics. From 1700 A. D.

43. 3rd Step: Secularity BeginningofSecularization Medieval world-view Secularization From 1700 A.D.

44. Historical background: French Revolution People are standing up for their rights and claim: „liberty, equality, fraternity“ clergy & nobility First constitutions and basic laws Lower class: ~98% of population

45. 4th Step: Rule of Law Applied secularity leads to the realisation of basic laws and constitutions created by humans instead of a god. Constitutions which includes the separation of powers. From 1789 A. D.

46. 5thStep: Democracy First European democracy in modern age realised in France 1791 on the basis of a democratic constitution. From 1791 A. D.

47. Historical background: World Wars After 30 yearsofsufferingcausedbytwoworldwarsit was clearthatthere was a needto break newground in order toavoid a thirdworldwar. Pictures: Wikipedia Commons CC by-sa German Federal Archive

49. „Every human being possesses natural, innate, inalienable rights, going beyond the basic law of states.From 1948 A. D.

50. The basic European Values

51. European Values are universal, humanistic values which are the basis for a society consisting of mature and independent and critically thinking human beings. Situation during the middle ages: Present situation:

52. European values and religion today N n

54. Conclusion Humanistic and theocentric world-view changes throughout history!

55. Present situation Hasthedownsidetrendstartedagain? The cutback of civil liberty in the course of anti-terror legislation, violation of human rights in the name of religions or the lack of democracy within the European Union illustrate, that it is important to fight for freedom today, the same as it was 500 years ago.

56. Present situation What the future holds, depends on our deeds and actions of today.

57. Let‘stogetherpreserve freedomforourchildren! www.EuropeanValues.info

58. EuropäischeWerte.info Man as central aspect

59. Further information on: www.EuropeanValues.info