The Abolition of Man???

Question

I'm totally confused about what C.S. Lewis is talking about in this book. Does anybody have some insight?

Answer 1

It's a superb little book (available on-line)

He starts with a criticism of that "wisdom" which thinks logic and analysis is everything, and has no time for feelings, emotion and other values that may be instinctual or culturally acquired.
"we are *only* saying something about our own feelings".

He draws out the implications of that. Is a horse something that can be defined in a scientific textbook, or is there something of a racehorse or a cavalry charger that is not well expressed, or expressed at all, that way?

Moving from specific examples, he considers what sort of individuals would be produced if educators (politicians, leaders...) decided this sort of education is good.

He comes close to what you could find in Brave New World: a populace manupulated, engineered, to be what others have decided it is good for them to be,.
"The Conditioners, then, are to choose what kind of artificial Tao they will, for their own good reasons, produce in the Human race. They are the motivators, the creators of motives. But how are they going to be motivated themselves? "

In contrast, he develops the theme of a traditional morality and set of values, from which variety is only really achieved by exaggerating or neglecting one part of the code, which for convenience he calls "The Tao"
The appendix gives examples of similar values and precepts from different cultures and periods.

I'm not certain he's made his case, but his opening criticisms clearly have force, and it's not clear instantly, or after thought, where he is wrong.