Note: Below is a summary of the video. This is a speech on values and the only scientific thing he said is “cultures must consciously evolve their value systems to match new realities.” So, why worry about designing value development? Just like cultures, values also evolve naturally with the evolving society and philosophers’ role must be how society can coherently manage and march forward to fulfill its aspirations of thriving.
The TEDx talk “Metamodern Values Explained | Dr. Daniel P. Görtz | TEDxTUBerlin” offers an accessible, intellectually sophisticated exploration of value systems—focusing in particular on the emerging framework of metamodernism. Dr. Daniel P. Görtz, a Swedish sociologist and co-founder of the think tank Metamoderna, traces the evolution of collective values from modernity through postmodern critique toward what he sees as a new, developmental stage. Here’s a detailed review:
Key Content and Arguments
1. The Problem of Values and Progress
- Görtz begins with fundamental questions about values: How do we know if our values are “right,” and why do people hold conflicting, sometimes incompatible, moral visions? He highlights that every era and community takes its values as “best,” yet these cannot all be right at once—suggesting the need for a developmental, contextual understanding.youtube
- The talk is structured around three “families” of values that have historically shaped Western society: Modern, Postmodern, and Metamodern values.
2. Modern Values (Enlightenment/Scientific Era)
- Modern values revolve around rationality, science, faith in progress, and the dignity of humanity—classic tenets of the Enlightenment.
- Görtz traces the historical achievement of modernity, including reductions in poverty, war, and disease, and improvements in rights and freedoms. He notes, however, that modernity produced its own major crises:
- Sustainability Problems: Unsustainable use of resources and environmental degradation.
- Inequality: Persistent and rationalized economic disparities.
- Alienation: Widespread mental health issues and loss of meaning, especially in advanced societies.youtube
3. Postmodern Values (Critical/Cultural Reaction)
- Postmodernism arises as an intellectual and cultural reaction to the limits and failures of modernity. It is characterized by:
- Critical relativism about “grand narratives” and the myth of linear progress.
- Emphasis on the constructedness of reality—how language, culture, and power dynamics shape beliefs.
- Suspicion towards claims of objective truth, critique of exclusionary practices, and focus on marginalized voices.
- Görtz observes that the postmodern stance, while deeply valuable, can “paralyze” action: A society dominated by critique and irony loses shared direction and can struggle to sustain meaningful collective projects.youtube
4. Metamodern Values (A New Synthesis)
- Developmental Perspective: Görtz advocates a “developmental” model of values, where each stage (modern, postmodern, metamodern) builds on and transcends the shortcomings of the prior one.
- Metamodernism seeks to synthesize the sincerity and progress-orientation of modernity with the self-reflexive critique of postmodernism:
- It “says yes” to both, affirming progress (but not naively), while retaining postmodern skepticism—but not to the point of nihilism.
- Metamodern values are goal-directed, oriented toward both complexity and compassion, and recognize the importance of personal and collective inner development (e.g., via education, meditation, psychological support).
- This stage aspires to equip citizens with the psychological and emotional resources needed to engage ethically with the complex, globalized, digital, and post-industrial era.youtube
- Policy Examples include supporting curricula and initiatives that foster inner growth, critical thinking, empathy, and resilience—arguing that only with these can societies transcend the problems of modernity (sustainability, inequality, alienation).
Summary Table: Value Systems in the Talk
| Value Family | Core Features | Strengths | Limits/Criticisms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern | Rationality, Science, Progress, Human Dignity | Reduces poverty, increases rights, progress | Unsustainable, Inequality, Alienation |
| Postmodern | Critique, Relativism, Expo. of Exclusion/Power | De-centers power, gives voice to many, self-aware | Paralyzing, Loss of Direction, Hyper-Relativism |
| Metamodern | Synthesis, Developmental, Self-aware, Compassion | Integrates, aspires, supports inner/collective growth | New and experimental, requires maturity |
Conclusion and Takeaways
Görtz’s presentation is both philosophical and practical. He argues that simply “choosing” values isn’t enough for modern societies; cultures must consciously evolve their value systems to match new realities. Metamodern values aren’t just a compromise—they’re an emergent framework that aspires to transcend the limits of both modern self-confidence and postmodern irony, fostering deeper empathy, resilience, and collective purpose. For Görtz, only this kind of cultural evolution will address the largest crises of our era—sustainability, inequality, and meaning.youtube
In sum: This talk serves as an articulate primer on metamodernism, combining critical reflection with optimism about the possibility for new forms of solidarity and collective growth, rooted in both head and heart.