The C.S. Lewis podcast #220 Dr. Max Baker-Hytch: The Moral Argument for God's Existence
Jul 28, 2025
Join Dr. Max Baker-Hytch, a tutorial fellow in Philosophy at Oxford, as he delves into the moral argument for God's existence inspired by C.S. Lewis. They discuss the universal moral law and its implications beyond nature. Can morality exist without a Moral Lawgiver? The conversation tackles the tension between objective morality and relative truth in modern culture, while also exploring the philosophical roots of these debates. Max sheds light on how our understanding of moral laws influences our ethical lives today.
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Lewis's Moral Law Insight
- C.S. Lewis argues that our indignation at unfair behavior implies an objective moral law beyond personal preference.
- This moral law points to a non-physical personal being as its source, according to Lewis.
Kant's Influence on Lewis
- Lewis was likely influenced by Immanuel Kant's concept of the 'categorical imperative' as a basis for objective moral law.
- Kant sees moral law as binding independent of personal desires, a framing Lewis adopts.
Strength and Limits of Lewis's Argument
- The initial part of Lewis's moral argument about objective moral law is compelling.
- The inference that this law implies a personal being is more debated, with some philosophers accepting objective morals but not God.
