Gad Saad Warns of Western Civilization’s Decline

Author and scholar Gad Saad is raising alarms about the potential collapse of Western civilization. In his new book, Suicidial Empathy: Dying to Be Kind, Saad discusses how misguided compassion is threatening the West by emphasizing ideological virtue-signaling over truth and practicality.

Saad states, “Empathy itself isn’t negative, but its excess can be harmful.” He stresses the importance of balance, referencing Aristotle’s advice on moderation. According to Saad, a complete lack of empathy could be linked to psychopathic behavior, while excessive empathy can lead to what he terms “suicidal empathy.” This occurs when empathy is misapplied, targeting the wrong individuals or situations.

As an example, Saad highlights the response to the Hamas attacks on October 7 in Israel. Following a massacre of 1,200 mainly Jewish people, the West’s attention shifted away from the Israeli victims to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Saad finds this shift concerning and believes it demonstrates long-standing ideological transformations in the West.

Saad traces many of these ideas back to university campuses, which he claims are breeding grounds for concepts that later influence politics, media, and culture. This cultural shift, he argues, leads to confusion over previously straightforward concepts, such as gender. During Justice Katanji Brown Jackson’s 2022 confirmation hearing, she declined to define “woman,” saying, “I’m not a biologist.” Saad criticized this response, stating that people should recognize obvious realities without needing specialized expertise.

Saad warns that this mindset can result in significant consequences, including rising antisemitism. He describes societies that tolerate Jew hatred as showing severe moral decay. Saad, who is Jewish and fled Lebanon during the civil war, has noted an increase in antisemitism in Canada since 1998.

Currently, Saad is involved with the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom at the University of Mississippi. He plans to continue his work as a distinguished professor there. Saad acknowledges that while some hope rested on President Donald Trump to reverse DEI and gender theory trends, he argues that substantial cultural change takes longer and requires more strategic solutions.

Despite resistance, Saad sees some support from academics who praise his work, albeit in secret. He remarks on the reluctance of many professors to openly challenge prevailing ideologies, highlighting a growing need for individuals to actively engage in these debates.