Jun 17, 2009 lewis, the abolition of man or reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of english in the upper forms of schools new york. The abolition of man provides a sobering look at modernism which, in turn, provides an even harsher indictment of postmodernism and its inherent moral relativism. The abolition of man by cs lewis is an interesting book that is different than most of his writings. Human beings appreciate values such as beauty and goodness because such things. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. Lewis takes a look at the heartless, frigid philosophy contained in modern elementary textbooks on english literature. Lewis refers to the universal standard and system of morality as the tao. Both astonishing and prophetic, this book is one of the most debated of lewis s extraordinary works. History, philosophy, education and science assesses and appraises lewis seminal lectures, providing a thorough analysis of the themes and subjects that are. Book 1 1 why, in lewis view, cant gaius and titius dissection of the value. Clive staples lewis 29 november 1898 22 november 1963 was a british writer and lay theologian. That hideous strength 1945, the third book of lewis s space trilogy, is a fictional development of the ideas which lewis introduces in abolition of man, especially regarding the effects on everyday people of a world in which science and technological progress are unhindered by belief in objective values.
Instant downloads of all 1296 litchart pdfs including the abolition of man. Walls comparing two giants of apologetics douglas groothuis, ph. Pdf fit to print as a sixpage, a5format booklet i there is a widespread modern assumption that value judgments do not reflect any objective reality. Without a doubt, cs lewis is one of the greatest minds of the last two centuries. The subtitle of this book is reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of english in the upper forms of schools. Jul 31, 2015 the abolition of man is a collection of essays from c. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The abolition of man study guide from litcharts the. Lewiss the abolition of man purports to be a book specifically about public education, but its central concerns are broadly political, religious, and philosophical. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. Lewis answer to this same thought, his answer to the skepticism which has once again begun to run rampant throughout all philosophy and all society since the beginning of modernity. Lewis wrote many books with educational as well as recreational benefits.
Naugle has written an excellent article applying lewis thought to modern education. Lewiss the abolition of man purports to be a book specifically about public education, but its central concerns are broadly political, religious, and. I doubt whether we are sufficiently attentive to the importance of elementary textbooks. One exception is the abolition of man1, a publication of three riddell memorial lectures he gave in february 1943 at durham university. The abolition of man by cs lewis cs lewis proves again why he is the master moralist in this near prophetic reflection on man and his destiny as it relates to the growing tendency to moral relativism and how that may influence science and technology. Beginning with a clear account of the historical setting for the abolition of man and its place within c. This is an illustration of the first chapter of the abolition of man. Lewis delivered it as a series of three evening lectures at kings college in 1943. Full text of the abolition of man internet archive.
In this book, the abolition of man, the comparison that is presented is at first somewhat confusing. Lewis mentioned in a letter to a friend that the abolition of man was. Lewis chapter 1 men without chests as one of the most respected authors in the twentieth century, c. Lewis draws here on the tripartite view of the human person which one finds in book iv of platos republic. Lewis, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The book recognizes lewis impressive foresight and reminds us of the continuing need to hear lewis message. The abolition of man, in full the abolition of man. Despite being a wellknown christian writer, in this particular text lewis is not arguing distinctively for a religious system, but. Page numbers in parentheses referring to the abolition of man are from this edition of the book. Lessons for a new century from the most influential apologists of our time scott r. A pdf version of the classic lewis text on natural law morality. Lewis, the most important christian writer of the 20th century, sets out to persuade his audience of the importance and.
The abolition of man 1943 a summary, followed by a brief summary by arend smilde i there is a widespread modern assumption that value judgments do not reflect any objective reality. C s lewiss philosophical defence of natural law absolute morality without which human beings are reduced to less than fully human, and are, thus abolished. Historical background to the abolition of man the book originated during wwii when lewis was asked by the university of durham to present the riddell memorial lectures on february 2426, 1943. Lewis this is a very difficult book to read and as much as i love c. The abolition of man study guide contains a biography of c. Many ideas in the trilogy, particularly opposition to dehumanisation as portrayed in the third book, are presented more formally in the abolition of man, based on a series of lectures by lewis at durham university in 1943. The content of this book was first delivered as a series of three evening lectures at kings college, n ewcastle university of durham, as the riddell memorial lectures on february 2426, 1943. Lewis, the most important christian writer of the 20th century, sets out to persuade his audience of the importance and relevance of universal values such. In the first line of his noted book the abolition of man, c. Many people regard this as lewiss most important book. He is best known for his works of fiction, especially the screwtape letters, the chronicles of narnia, and.
With his signature courtesy, even toward his intellectual opponents, lewis declines to name the authors with whom he took issue or even name the book. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. It would certainly be a worthwhile investment for contemporary academics and educators to read these contemporary perspectives on c. This view sees sentiment as a kind of middle ground between the cerebral part of a person and the lower appetitesin other words, the heart. History, philosophy, education and science assesses and appraises lewis seminal lectures, providing a thorough analysis of the themes and subjects that are raised. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the abolition of man. Lewis, the most important christian writer of the 20th century, sets out to persuade his audience of the importance and relevance of universal values such as courage and honor in contemporary society. Cs lewis argues that objective value actually exists and that to believe otherwise is to create nonsense. Nor is this volume a defense of the christian faith similar to other books from the pen of c. It is a valuable reminder that even after 75 years, lewis. Written in 1943, father thomas hopko considers this tome one of the most important books of the 20th century. Lewis sets out to persuade his audience of the importance and relevance of universal values such as courage and honor in contemporary society.
The book originated as the riddell memorial lectures, three. Subtitled reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of english in the upper forms of. Sep 30, 2015 in the first line of his noted book the abolition of man, c. Both astonishing and prophetic, the abolition of man is one of the most debated of lewiss extraordinary works. Lewiss work covers an impressive range of topics and genres. The abolition of man, lewis uses his graceful prose, delightful humor, and keen understanding of the human mind to challenge our notions about how to best teach our childrenand ourselvesnot merely reading and writing, but also a sense of morality. Its readers could easily read it on a sunday afternoon. Lewis, the abolition of man in a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. Likewise, i doubt whether we are sufficiently attentive to the importance of the socalled new science of the moral sense that is flourishing in our midst today. Lewiss the abolition of man introduction to the book. Lewis writings, i probably would not recommend this one. Samizdat, january 2014 public domain under canadian law font. It is subtitled reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of english in the upper forms of schools, and uses that as a starting point for a defense of objective value and natural law, and a warning of the consequences of doing away with or debunking those things.
Whereas his other books, such as mere christianity or the chronicles of narnia are known for their defense of christianity or christian values, the abolition of man is a bit different rather than rest on christian, or even theist, arguments, lewis instead. Created from the augustine club version housed elsewhere in the internet archive. Full text of the abolition of man see other formats c. So does this book six essays about the abolition of man applied to our time and our future. Oct 17, 2011 the subtitle of this book is reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of english in the upper forms of schools. Few of his books and lectures appear to be patently prophetic.
As such, it is a book that should be of interest to any adherent of any traditional religion. Lewis book makes deep claims that should be of interest to all people concerned with values, morals, and truth. Abolition of man is a short philosophical work about moral education. At the time of abolition s publication, lewis had already published mere. Lewis introduction the abolition of man was first given as a series of lectures in 1943. Whereas his other books, such as mere christianity or the chronicles of narnia are known for their defense of christianity or christian values, the abolition of man is a bit different. It has been ranked as one of the most important books of the 20 th century. With his signature courtesy, even toward his intellectual opponents, lewis declines to name the authors with whom. Lewis, the abolition of man or reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of english in the upper forms of schools new york. Lewis the abolition of man or reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of enghsh in the upper forms of schools the master said, he who sets to work on a different strand destroys the whole fabric confucius, analects ii. It is not as clearly articulated or thought out as most of his work. For example, the authors of a textbook on english for the upper forms of schools tell their pupils that language.
Lewis confronts the modern attempt to overthrow the doctrine of objective value, the belief that certain attitudes are really true, and others really false, to the kind of thing the universe is and the kind of things we are. For the power of man to make himself what he pleases means, as we have seen, the power of some men to make other men what they please. Lewis s the abolition of man purports to be a book specifically about public education, but its central concerns are broadly political, religious, and. Lewis is a short, wellwritten, and interesting book. The abolition of man is comprised of three lectures that lewis gave on the topic of morality. In this seminal book, jeremy rifkin explores the epic marriage between computer technology and genetic engineering, and the historic transition into the age of biotechnology. Buy a cheap copy of the abolition of man book by c. He held academic positions in english literature at both oxford university magdalen college, 19251954 and cambridge university magdalene college, 19541963. Jan 20, 2020 the abolition of man by cs lewis is an interesting book that is different than most of his writings. But, as readers soon discovered, the book was not at all about the war, or hitlers eugenics, or the looming nuclear threat.
Lewis, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and. With lewiss typical conversational and meditational style, he approaches the reality of objective truth and how it plays out in our world. The book originated as the riddell memorial lectures, three lectures delivered at the university of durham in february 1943. Jun 09, 2009 natures revenge, the abolition of man, the triumph of emotions, whims, and feelings over the proven, objective rules and ways of doing things that characterize our civilization. Lewis published the abolition of man in 1944 in the midst of world war ii. The abolition of man was not intended to be a book at all. The three lectures, entitled men without chests, the way, and the abolition of man now comprise the three chapters of the book.
The lectures dealt largely with the dangers of moral relativism a subject that increasingly was to occupy lewis mind as. Lewis the abolition of man or reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of english in the upper forms of schools the master said, he who sets to work on a different strand destroys the whole fabric confucius, analects ii. We can perhaps imagine the ominous and suggestive nature of this timing. Lewis, the abolition of man or reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of english in the upper forms of schools, new york. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. In the best of the books three essays, men without chests, lewis trains his lasersharp wit on a mid century english high school text, considering the ramifications of teaching british students to believe in. Both astonishing and prophetic, this book is one of the most debated of lewiss extraordinary works. The abolition of man, a book on education and moral values by c. Subtitled reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of english in the upper forms of schools, it uses that as a starting point for a defense of objective value and natural law as well as a warning of the consequences of doing away with or debunking those things.
I believe everyone needs to read this book, as lewis explains so clearly and succinctly what he was afraid of happening in his own time, but what is happening in our time right before our very eyes. But one finds in it little about education, and less about the teaching of english. S download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. There is a widespread modern assumption that value judgments do not reflect any objective reality. The abolition of man is a collection of essays from c. He argues that there is an objectively right way of ordering values which corresponds to reality. If you want to understand the countercivilization yin opposed to civilizations yang, this book is a good place to start, particularly the last section.
In the abolition of man lewis later defended the value of classical literature and philosophy, thereby supporting traditional ideas of the beautiful, the good, and the true all characteristics of the tao and opposing the errors of richards and others that would lead to men without chests and, indeed, to the end of man as we know him. Lewis corpus of writing, contemporary perspectives on c. The three lectures comprising the book are rather rambling talks about. Lewis, and is arguably one of his most contemplative works. The abolition of man 1943 a summary, followed by a brief summary.