Synopsis
A moral philosophy work by CS Lewis that explores the consequences of rejecting objective values and natural law in favor of subjective relativism. Lewis begins by critiquing the undermining of universal truths and moral standards. He introduces the concept of the "Tao," a term he uses to describe the shared, objective moral framework that transcends cultures and time, encompassing common human virtues like justice, courage, and love.
Length: Short
80-100 pages in most printed editions, ±20,000 words. A concise yet dense read, designed to provoke thought rather than overwhelm with length, making it accessible over a few hours.
The book is divided into three parts:
- "Men Without Chests": Lewis warns that stripping away objective values produces people who lack "chests"—the seat of virtuous emotions and moral conviction—leaving them intellectually detached and morally hollow.
- "The Way": He defends the Tao as the foundation of human morality, arguing that attempts to create new values outside it are incoherent and self-defeating.
- "The Abolition of Man": In the final section, Lewis envisions a dystopian future where a small group of technocrats, unbound by the Tao, use science and power to redefine humanity itself, ultimately abolishing what it means to be human by reducing existence to mere appetite and control.
Lewis contends that abandoning the Tao doesn't liberate humanity but enslaves it to nature or to those who wield power without moral restraint. The book is both a defense of traditional Biblical morality and a prophetic warning about the dehumanizing potential of modern athiesm.
Why The Abolition of Man Is Important to Read Today
- Relevance to Moral Relativism: In an era where subjective "truths" often dominate discourse, Lewis’s defense of objective morality challenges readers to reconsider whether values can hold without a universal foundation.
- Critique of Education: The book’s analysis of how education shapes (or erodes) moral character resonates with ongoing debates about curriculum, critical thinking, and the purpose of learning in a polarized world.
- Warning About Technology: Lewis’s foresight about science and power—think AI, genetic engineering, or surveillance—feels eerily prescient, urging caution as we navigate ethical boundaries in innovation.
- Cultural Fragmentation: As societies grapple with clashing worldviews, the Tao offers a lens to explore what unites humanity across differences, a pressing question in our globalized yet divided age.
- Human Identity: The book forces reflection on what it means to be human in a time when identity, emotions, and even biology are increasingly malleable or redefined.
- Timeless Clarity: Lewis’s lucid prose and logical rigor make complex philosophy accessible, providing a tool to cut through today’s noise of misinformation and ideological extremes.
Three Defining Quotes from The Abolition of Man
"We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful."
"The practical result of education in the spirit of The Green Book must be the destruction of the society which accepts it. But this is not necessarily a refutation of subjectivism about values as a theory. The true doctrine might be a doctrine which if we accept we die."
"If you will not have the Tao, you must take the consequences: you will have abolished man. The last step in the perversion of reason is the attempt to remake man in the image of his own fancy, and that is what the conditioners undertake."
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