Reverend Brian McGreevy continues his series, Not as Unwise but as Wise: Reflections from C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man and That Hideous Strength on Living Christianly in a Post-Christian World. This is available as a podcast on iTunes.
MEN WITHOUT CHESTSUnpacking Lewis’s Imagery in “Men Without Chests”
Shelley’s Aeolian Harp (It is as if the lyre could accommodate its chords to the motions of that which strikes them, in a determined proportion of sound; even as the musician can accommodate his voice to the sound of the lyre.”
Thomas Traherne (Can you accomplish the end for which you were created, unless you be Righteous, unless you be just in rendering to Things their due esteem? All things were made to be yours, and you were made to prize them according to their value.)
St. Augustine’s ordo amoris “Love itself is to be ordinately loved, because we do well to love that which, when we love it, makes us live well and virtuously.”
Aristotle (the aim of education in to make the pupil love what he ought)
Plato (“The well-nurtured youth is one who would with a just distaste would blame and hate the ugly and would give delighted praise to beauty so that he became a man of gentle heart.”)
Hinduism’s Rta: (The Truth, which informs and orders the universe and human society)
Chinese Tao: (That to which all things in heaven and earth must conform)
Jewish law: (“all His commandments are True’)
Orbilius and Dr. I.A. RichardsOrbilius refers to E.G. Biaginni, (1889-1978) author of The Reading and Writing of English (1936), which is the other textbook besides The Green Book which Lewis attacks in The Abolition of Man. Orbilius attempts to criticize and debunk some writing about horses but without reference to any objective value (i.e., he fails to compare what purports to be bad writing about horses to any great literary writing about horses and then explain the difference; he prefers just to debunk)
Dr. I.A. Richards (1893-1979) English literary critic and educational theorist who wrote Principles of Literary Criticism (1924). Lewis at least respected Richards for his honest approach: “Richards walks up to our mental front door and rings the bell: you needn’t buy his stuff if you don’t want—‘good morning, no offence.’ The others sneak in, or blunder in, through the scullery.”—Lewis to Dorothy Sayers 7 November 1947
Another Lens: The Abolition of Man’s argument as expressed in Mere Christianity
Book I. Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe: The Law of Human Nature
A. Quarreling and what people say
B. Appeal to a standard of behavior which is generally agreed upon
C. The Law of Nature and the Law of Human Nature: humans are subject to multiple natural laws but are only free to disobey one
D. Idea of decent behavior is obvious to all because Right is a real thing
E. Morality and moral teaching are remarkably consistent across ages and civilizations
F. Those who say they do not believe in a real Right or Wrong will nevertheless appeal to a standard of fairness if things do not go their way
G. Right and Wrong are no more matters of taste or opinion than the multiplication tables, yet no one is successfully and consistently keeping the Law of Nature
H. We have failed to practice ourselves the kind of behavior we expect from other people
I. Two key points: humans know the Law of Nature; they break itSome additional characters
Practices of Hope and of Wisdom
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.—Philippians 4:8-9
1. Read the right books, starting with the Bible (don’t be like Eustace Scrubb!)
2. Read with others and discuss them, everything from The Wind in the Willows to Dostoevsky (try Crime and Punishment)
3. Add some liturgy to your prayer life
4. Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) daily for a week and put the “consider” texts into practice
Resources
- Lewis’s Rejection of Nihilism – The Tao and the Problem of Moral Knowledge
- Ward interview on Abolition of Man
