Europe was liberated in 1945 by the Allies from the Nazi dictatorship, but at the same time, it was caught in a vice by new world powers in the West and the East. This dual experience of liberation and the definitive loss of Europe's former dominance spans two generations. Only after the resolution of the superpower stranglehold are Europeans able to pose questions about the defining characteristics of Western identity with renewed commitment. As Peter Sloterdijk argues, a situation has arisen that increasingly pressures Europe's politicians, leaving them confused unless they seek historical-philosophical insights and clear prophetic orientations. How can Europe's position be assessed today? Have Europeans learned again to "demand great things from themselves" in order to find a way back into a broader horizon?.