Podcast Summary
A defense of objective values and their denial's consequences: C.S. Lewis argued that moral values are objective realities, not subjective preferences, and warned that denying their existence would lead to self-destruction.
C.S. Lewis's "The Abolition of Man" is a philosophical treatise that argues for the objective existence of moral values and the destructive consequences of denying it. Lewis, a Catholic priest and senior research fellow at Oxford, believed that values are not subjective preferences but rather objective realities that can be discovered. He warned that denying the objectivity of value would lead to self-destruction. Lewis delivered these ideas as lectures during World War II, a time of great trauma for Britain, and drew inspiration from his experiences during World War I. The book serves as a defense of objective values and a prediction of the chaos that would ensue if they were denied.
C.S. Lewis's experiences during WW1 shaped his belief in objective moral values: Lewis believed that the willingness to suffer for one's beliefs is a crucial test of their objectivity, which he developed after coming close to death and witnessing the deaths of comrades during WW1. This idea is central to his influential book 'The Abolition of Man' where he argues against Nazi morality and for the existence of objective moral values.
C.S. Lewis's experiences during World War I significantly influenced his belief in objective moral values. Having come close to death and witnessed the deaths of his comrades, Lewis held that the willingness to suffer for one's beliefs is a crucial test of their objectivity. This idea is central to his book "The Abolition of Man," where he argues that Nazi morality is an absolute perversion and that all human beings can perceive objective value. Lewis's own experiences during the war gave him a deep understanding of the importance of defending one's country and beliefs, making "The Abolition of Man" a powerful and influential work.
C.S. Lewis's personal battle with subjectivism: Lewis saw subjectivism as a false dichotomy and believed objective values exist in the world
That C.S. Lewis's "The Abolition of Man" is a deeply personal work that stems from his own struggle with subjectivism. He saw the opposition between facts and values as a false dichotomy, a misleading division that has ensnared us for centuries. Lewis's background, as discussed in his guide, reveals his own battles with this mode of thinking in his teens and twenties. He considered subjectivism an enemy and wanted to share the escape route he had found. The "green book" he references in the text is a seemingly innocuous English composition textbook, but Lewis believed it introduced a subjectivist mindset to children, making it particularly insidious. The book's true nature was not its primary concern for Lewis; instead, he used it as a launchpad for his larger argument against subjectivism and for recognizing the objective value in the world.
C.S. Lewis on the Qualitative Nature of the World: C.S. Lewis believed the world has inherent qualities that demand specific responses, challenging the modern trend towards reducing all knowledge to quantifiable facts.
According to C.S. Lewis, the world is not just a collection of quantifiable facts, but also possesses objective qualities that demand certain responses from us. The Greenberg's argument for subjectivism, which suggests there's no objective value in things, is problematic for Lewis as it denies the existence of such qualities and leads to a shrunken world of competing subjectivisms. He believes things have an inherent value that elicits specific reactions, making the world qualitative rather than just quantitative. This perspective challenges the modern trend towards reducing all knowledge to quantitative, measurable facts, which Lewis argues is limiting and misguided.
C.S. Lewis' argument for universal objective moral values: C.S. Lewis believed in a self-evident moral reality, called the DAO, which undergirds all moral and logical thought, and is universally acknowledged by scientists and philosophers.
C.S. Lewis argued for the existence of a universal objective moral value based reality, which he called the DAO. He believed this moral ecology, like the physical atmosphere and environment we inhabit, is self-evident and not something we can invent. Scientists, in assuming the world is knowable and truth exists, also acknowledge this moral reality, even if they may not fully understand it. Lewis emphasized the universality of this moral logic by reaching into Chinese philosophy, using the term DAO, rather than terms like natural law or first principles. This argument is not about defending Christianity or theism, but rather the objective nature of value that precedes and undergirds all moral and logical thought.
The Universal Moral Law in 'The Abolition of Man': C.S. Lewis's 'The Abolition of Man' posits the existence of a universal moral law, learned primarily from upbringing and relationships, which transcends cultural and religious differences, providing evidence for its validity through the universality of moral codes.
C.S. Lewis's "The Abolition of Man" argues for the objective existence of a moral law, or the Tao, which transcends cultural and religious differences. This moral law, according to Lewis, is universal and can be seen in various moral codes throughout history and around the world. He believes that we learn about this moral law primarily from our upbringing and relationships, particularly from our parents and siblings. John Gray, a prominent British atheist philosopher, has also acknowledged the relevance and value of this work. While Lewis's arguments are rooted in Christian principles, he aims to make a purely philosophical case that can be accepted by people of all backgrounds who believe in the objectivity of value. The universality of moral codes across cultures and throughout history provides circumstantial evidence for the validity of his argument.
The importance of balancing reason and emotion: Effectively communicating and instilling authentic moral values requires living up to them and balancing reason and emotion in our actions and responses, developing a 'chest' of just sentiments and regularized emotions.
Authentic moral values can only be effectively communicated and instilled when we consistently live up to those values ourselves. C.S. Lewis's concept of a "man without a chest" refers to an individual whose emotions and sentiments are not properly educated and regulated, leading to irrational or insensitive behavior. This threefold model of the human person, consisting of head, chest, and belly, emphasizes the importance of balancing reason and emotion in our actions and responses. By developing a "chest" - a seat of just sentiments, stable and civilized feelings, and regularized emotions - we can effectively discern and respond to values in the world around us, recognizing the importance of both reason and emotion in our human nature.
Understanding the importance of moral education in human development: C.S. Lewis emphasizes the significance of moral education in helping us discern subtle values and become fully human, as reflected in his Narnia series.
According to C.S. Lewis, human beings are like aolian harps, capable of both receiving external impressions and making internal adjustments. However, developing the ability to discern subtle shades of value, such as the difference between pretty and sublime, takes time and moral education. As Aristotle believed, education aims to help us like and dislike what we ought to, and this process of moral formation is essential for becoming fully human. This idea is reflected in Lewis's Narnia series, where characters like Peter and the Ape Shift illustrate the consequences of having a strong or weak chest, representing one's capacity for reason and emotion. Ultimately, Lewis emphasizes the importance of moral training to develop our chest and become the best version of ourselves.
The loss of objective moral values and the rise of subjectivism: Subjectivism can lead to a society without honor, ethics, or accountability, making it easier for individuals to justify their selfishness and disregard moral issues.
The loss of objective moral values and the embrace of subjectivism can lead to a society where people are left without a sense of honor, ethics, or accountability. This can manifest in various ways, from the subtle indoctrination in school textbooks to the blatant disregard for morals in popular culture and personal relationships. Philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre's work, "After Virtue," explores the consequences of debating morality outside of objective values, leading to a culture where people laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in their midst. Ultimately, this subjectivist approach can be a convenient way to defend our own selfishness and avoid changing our behavior, even when it comes to important moral issues like sexual self-control and respect for others.
Modernist viewpoint leads to incommensurable disputes: In a world without objective reality and value, disputes become inresolvable, leading to protests and indignation. To affect change, one must use power and force, or argue against subjectivism's falsity.
In a subjectivist, modernist viewpoint, where objective reality and value are absent, disputes and differences of opinion become incommensurable, leading to an inability to rationally resolve serious disputes. Protests and indignation become the predominant modes of expression, but they can't be rationally effective. McIntyre argues that protest is addressed to those who already share the protesters' premises, and the only way to affect change is through power and force. Lewis echoes this idea, warning that if we turn our backs on objective moral reality, we'll end up in a world of emotivism, where people feel things and shout at each other without coming to conclusions. To avoid this, Lewis suggests arguing against subjectivism, showing its falsity and the unattractive destination to which it leads. He also emphasizes the importance of training our chests, or our moral character, to resist the allure of subjectivism.
The Preservation of Objective Values Requires Collective Effort: C.S. Lewis warns of a bleak future if we adopt a subjectivist perspective and emphasizes the importance of individuals, including parents, teachers, public figures, media, artists, working together to preserve objective values in society.
S. Lewis' The Abolition of Man," is that the preservation of objective values in society requires the collective effort of individuals, including parents, teachers, public figures, media, artists, and more. This intellectual argument, as presented in Lewis' book, is negative in nature, predicting a bleak future if we adopt a subjectivist perspective. To learn more about "After Humanity" and Michael Ward's work, visit wordonfire.org/humanity. By ordering the book from Word on Fire's website, you'll receive a free copy of "The Abolition of Man." Additionally, you can find more resources on the topic by listening to our show, "Men Without Chests," available at aom.is/menwithoutchests. Remember to support us by reviewing the podcast on Apple Podcast or Stitcher, sharing it with others, and considering a Stitcher subscription for ad-free listening. As always, put the knowledge you gain from the A1 Podcast into action.
