Summary

In C.S. Lewis's "The Abolition of Man," he critiques a trend in modern education that undermines traditional values and objective morality. Lewis argues that by denying the existence of objective truth and inherent goodness, educators are creating "men without chests," individuals lacking the emotional and spiritual framework necessary for true virtue and wisdom. He uses the example of a textbook that dismisses a child's feelings of awe as merely subjective to illustrate how this educational approach devalues essential human experiences.

Lewis introduces the concept of the Tao, a universal moral law or natural order recognized across cultures and throughout history. He argues that the Tao is the foundation of all value judgments. Attempts to create new systems of values, what he calls 'innovations,' are simply the arbitrary selection and distortion of fragments of the Tao, not true departures from it. He warns against 'debunking' traditional values, arguing that such attempts ultimately lead to the abolition of man himself, the destruction of our essential humanness by reducing us to mere biological entities or social constructs.

Lewis suggests that the modern pursuit of 'Man's conquest of Nature' has gone awry. He argues that this conquest, driven by applied science and a desire for control, ultimately leads to the subjugation of man by other men and, ultimately, to man's subjugation by his own irrational impulses. He paints a bleak picture of a future where 'conditioners' manipulate human nature through scientific techniques, ultimately producing a world of 'post-humanity' devoid of true values and meaning.

Lewis proposes the possibility of a 'regenerate science' that recognizes the limitations of its own methods and doesn't reduce complex realities to mere quantifiable data. He warns that the analytical approach of science, while powerful, can be a 'basilisk' that kills what it sees by reducing it to mere nature. He calls for a return to a holistic understanding of reality that respects the qualitative, subjective, and value-laden aspects of human experience.

Ultimately, Lewis argues that a dogmatic belief in objective values is crucial for avoiding tyranny and maintaining a just and humane society. He warns that without the Tao, there is no common law of action to govern both rulers and ruled, leaving only the arbitrary will of the powerful. He suggests that the choice is between embracing the Tao or facing the abolition of man, the loss of our essential humanity.