He said that following January’s attacks, French citizens have felt closer to security and police officials. “Sometimes in our attempt to protect democracy, we actually end up undermining it,” Bruckner said, adding that the only way to stop the appeal of far-right parties in Europe is for mainstream parties in power to take the necessary measures that will deprive ultranationalists of their arguments. The 66-year-old philosopher, essayist and novelist also spoke about the restrictions which are expected to be imposed on individual freedoms in France, a nation which, contrary to Britain and the United States, has always treated the subject of terrorism with one eye fixed on democratic sensibilities. He said that the extremists targeted the innocent victims simply for what they are.

“This is not a time for sentimentalism, but for clear thinking, for calm and determination vis-a-vis the enemy,” he said of the terrorists, adding that the January attacks were a preamble for the events that followed. For about 40 minutes, he gave a lucid description about recent events that are abruptly ushering us into a new era. Bruckner was naturally asked what he thought about the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris. On Wednesday, Bruckner visited Greece to discuss his latest autobiographical book, “Un bon fils” (“A Good Son,” which was recently published in Greek translation by Patakis), in an open conversation with journalist Yorgos Archimandritis at the Cycladic Art Museum in Athens. Something is slowly dying in our nations and, unless we wake up, we will disappear.”

This is the twilight of European civilization. What we are left with is a reflection of a gray, chiaroscuro version of it. In an interview with a Greek newspaper in November 2012, the author of “The Tyranny of Guilt: An Essay on Western Masochism” said of Europe: “We have abandoned the momentum and energy of the Enlightenment.

The Tyranny of Guilt by Pascal Bruckner