Join Jason Baxter, a C.S. Lewis scholar and director at Benedictine College, and Nicholas Colloff, an insightful interpreter of Lewis’s works, as they delve into the profound ideas presented in Lewis's three key writings. They explore how modernity's detachment from objective values leads to a hollow existence. The conversation covers the dystopian vision of 'That Hideous Strength,' the transformative journey in 'Till We Have Faces,' and the need for emotional education to restore humanity. Their discussion reveals the timeless relevance of Lewis's critiques in navigating today's complex world.
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insights INSIGHT
Modernity's Sustainability
C.S. Lewis questions the sustainability of the modern project, fearing humanity's obliteration through systemic absorption.
He contrasts this with traditional human values, emphasizing a balance between intellect, emotion, and spiritual desires.
insights INSIGHT
Men Without Chests
Lewis critiques the divorce of intellect and emotion, leading to "men without chests."
This leaves individuals vulnerable to manipulation and control, lacking the "trained emotions" to resist.
insights INSIGHT
Value of the Heart
The "chest" or heart has both moral and epistemological value, enabling love and pursuit of transcendent beauty.
It allows us to firmly grasp what we love and fine-tune our sensitivity to transcendent experiences.
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Published in 1945, 'That Hideous Strength' is the final book in C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy. The story takes place on Earth and follows the character Mark Studdock, a young sociology faculty member at Bracton College, as he becomes entangled with the National Institute of Co-ordinated Experiments (N.I.C.E.), a sinister organization with totalitarian ambitions. The novel delves into themes of faith, doubt, and the struggle between good and evil, featuring characters from the previous books in the trilogy, including Elwin Ransom. It critiques the dangers of logical positivism and the erosion of moral values, drawing parallels with other dystopian works like George Orwell's '1984'[1][2][5].
The abolition of man
C.S. Lewis
In 'The Abolition of Man', C.S. Lewis delivers a defense of objective value and natural law, originating from his Riddell Memorial Lectures at the University of Durham in 1943. Lewis argues that education should be conducted within the context of moral law and objective values, which he terms the 'Tao'. He criticizes modern attempts to debunk these values, warning that such actions could lead to a dehumanization of society, resulting in what he calls 'Men without Chests' – individuals whose emotions have not been trained to conform to reason. The book emphasizes the universal nature of traditional moralities across different cultures and warns against the dangers of moral relativism and the reduction of human beings to mere objects of scientific analysis[2][4][5].
Till We Have Faces
C.S. Lewis
This novel is a retelling of the ancient myth of Cupid and Psyche, narrated by Orual, the ugly and bitter older sister of the beautiful Psyche. Orual's story is a complex exploration of envy, betrayal, loss, and the journey towards self-awareness and redemption. The book delves into Orual's life as she grapples with her love for Psyche, her anger towards the gods, and her eventual realization of her own flaws and the true nature of her feelings. The narrative is divided into two parts, reflecting Orual's transformation from a state of bitterness and self-deception to one of understanding and mercy[2][4][5].
A discussion with Jason Baxter, Nicholas Colloff and Mark Vernon.
The Abolition of Man is a series of three lectures given by C.S. Lewis in defence of objective value, arguing that modernity has undermined our humanity by uncoupling intellect from instinct. With hearts divorced from minds, first the world empties of presence, then life empties of meaning and people become “men without chests”.
That Hideous Strength is a fictionalised version of the abolition, exploring the impact of transhumanism, aggressive rationalism, absent gods, and an inability to contemplate and know reality as it is.
Till We Have Faces also tells of a world in which humanity is veiled and power rules, though in which gods make unexpected appearances and humanity is restored by learning to bear the weight of being once more.
How do these works account for today? What remedies do they offer? Why might we keep reading them?
0:00 Introductions 01:47 The core ideas of The Abolition of Man 04:46 All truths cannot be relative! 09:38 The need for an aesthetic education 12:13 Owen Barfield on objectivity and subjectivity 20:02 Chivalry and recovering spiritual practices 28:25 A time in which everything is real 30:56 The core ideas in That Hideous Strength 39:48 The uninvited powers of material times 41:48 The need for wisdom communities 44:25 Why the Arthurian weaves in the story? 49:10 Learning about and learning from 53:21 Lewis's violence and the eruption of power 56:48 The core ideas in Till We Have Faces 59:45 The retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche 01:01:52 When truth is too much to bear 01:04:07 The recovery of humanity and the face of God 01:06:02 The value of myth and moving from the linear 01:09:30 Remaking or merely copying? A thought on Notre Dame 01:11:17 Emptying and the fullness of divine presence 01:12:58 Jane and Mark in the bridal chamber 01:15:35 When everything is the face of God
Jason is Professor and Director of Center for Beauty and Culture, Benedictine College. For more - www.jasonmbaxter.com For more on Nicholas Colloff - https://ncolloff.blogspot.com For more on Mark Vernon - www.markvernon.com
Inner Life, Talks and Thoughts 
