The Abolition of Man, C S Lewis. (Paperback 1500906514)

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The Abolition of Man
Author: C S Lewis

Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 ? 22 November 1963), commonly called C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, poet, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, and Christian apologist. Born in Belfast, Ireland, he held academic positions at both Oxford University (Magdalene College- 1... more »925?54), and Cambridge University (Magdalene College- 1954?63). He is best known both for his fictional work, especially The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Space Trilogy, and for his non-fiction Christian apologetics, such as Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain. Lewis begins with a critical response to ?The Green Book?, by ?Gaius and Titius?, pseudonyms for King, Alex; Ketley, Martin (1939), The Control of Language: A Critical Approach to Reading and Writing. The Green book was used as a text for upper form students in British schools. Lewis takes the authors to task for subverting student values. He claims that they teach that all statements of value (such as "this waterfall is sublime") are merely statements about the speaker's feelings and say nothing about the object. Lewis says that such a subjective view of values is faulty, and, on the contrary, certain objects and actions merit positive or negative reactions: that a waterfall can actually be objectively praiseworthy, and that one's actions can be objectively good or evil. In any case, Lewis notes, this is a philosophical position rather than a grammatical one, and so parents and teachers who give such books to their children and students are having them read the "work of amateur philosophers where they expected the work of professional grammarians." In Men without chests, Lewis shows a Dystopian future and criticizes modern attempts to debunk "natural" values (such as those that would deny objective value to the waterfall) on rational grounds. The final chapter describes the ultimate consequences of this debunking: a distant future in which the values and morals of the majority are controlled by a small group who rule by a "perfect" understanding of psychology, and who in turn, being able to "see through" any system of morality that might induce them to act in a certain way, are ruled only by their own unreflected whims. An appendix to "The Abolition of Man" lists a number of basic values that Lewis saw as parts of the Tao, supported by quotations from different cultures. A fictional treatment of the dystopian project to carry out the Abolition of Man is a theme of Lewis's novel That Hideous Strength. Passages from The Abolition of Man are included in William Bennet's The Book of Virtues which could be said to be a compilation of examples of Lewis's "Tao" system of values or natural law. National Review ranked the book #7 in its 100 Best Non-Fiction Books of the 20th Century list. The Intercollegiate Studies Institute ranked the book as the second best book of the 20th century. In a lecture on Walker Percy, Professor Peter Kreeft of Boston College lists the book as one of six "books to read to save Western Civilization," alongside Lost in the Cosmos by Walker Percy, Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis, The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton, and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Christian hip hop duo Mars ILL named the track "The Abolition of man CHILD" from their 2002 album Raw Material after the book. In 2003, the Post-Hardcore band Thrice based the lyrics of the song "The Abolition of Man" on the book. It was featured in the band's third album, The Artist in the Ambulance. The band Point of Recognition also allude to Lewis' book in the lyrics of their song "Abolition of Man."

ISBN-13: 9781500906511
ISBN-10: 1500906514
Publication Date: 8/21/2014
Pages: 46
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Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 6
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Donna E. (impossible) reviewed The Abolition of Man on 8/21/2006 + 3352 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

1978 edition of 1947 classic. Discusses education - good and bad. Very thought provoking.

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Carla B. (puppyluv) reviewed The Abolition of Man on 3/26/2007 + 552 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

From the Publisher
C. S. Lewis sets out to persuade his audience of the importance and relevance of universal values such as courage and honor in contemporary society.

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Julie K. reviewed The Abolition of Man on 4/26/2007 + 7 more book reviews

If you love C.S. Lewis then you will love this one from him to. Small 109 pg. book, but very deep and will keep you wanting more of his material. The author reflects on education, society, and nature.

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Ann C. (inchargemom) reviewed The Abolition of Man on 10/20/2006 + 134 more book reviews

How education develops man's sense of morality.

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Kelly H. (momiac) reviewed The Abolition of Man on 2/5/2006 + 168 more book reviews

Prophetic.

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