The Art of Manliness C.S. Lewis on Building Men With Chests
Louis Markos, a Professor of English and C.S. Lewis expert, discusses the philosopher's view on the human soul, comprising the head, belly, and vital 'chest' which cultivates virtue. Markos highlights Lewis's conversion to Christianity and its impact on his moral philosophy. They explore how to educate the chest through myths, rejecting 'chronological snobbery,' and fostering excellence in friendships. This conversation sheds light on the significance of storytelling and community in developing character and moral understanding.
42:33
Introduction to Lewis
- Louis Markos's priest gave him Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity.
- This sparked his lifelong interest in C.S. Lewis, leading to his career as a Lewis scholar.
Impact of Early Loss
- C.S. Lewis's mother's death deeply affected him and his faith.
- Boarding school experiences further distanced him, leading to atheism.
WWI and Oxford
- Though an atheist, Lewis felt it his duty to fight in WWI.
- A shrapnel injury led to Oxford entry, waiving his math requirement.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
The Journey of C.S. Lewis: From Skepticism to Faith
03:24 • 17min
Insights from Sponsors on Business Solutions and Savings
20:51 • 4min
Understanding the Tao: Myths, Morality, and Manliness
24:26 • 4min
C.S. Lewis: Heroism and the Power of Storytelling
28:47 • 16min
Engaging with Virtue and Community Through Literature
44:52 • 2min
1984
None
George Orwell
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
Mere Christianity
C.S. Lewis
In 'Mere Christianity', C.S. Lewis argues for the existence of God and defends Christian theology. The book is divided into four parts: the first argues for the existence of God based on the 'law of human nature'; the second defends Christian theology, including the 'Liar, lunatic, or Lord' trilemma regarding Jesus Christ; the third explores Christian ethics, including the cardinal and theological virtues; and the fourth discusses the Christian conception of God, particularly the Holy Trinity. Lewis also addresses topics such as free will, morality, sexual ethics, and the institution of marriage. The book is known for its clear and logical presentation of Christian apologetics and has been praised for its straightforward and humorous writing style[1][2][4].
The Golden Bough
A Study in Magic and Religion
James George Frazer
The Golden Bough is a wide-ranging, comparative study of mythology and religion written by Sir James George Frazer. The book examines the intricate relationships between magic, religion, and the customs of ancient societies, particularly focusing on the rituals and beliefs surrounding the priesthood of Diana at Aricia in Italy. Frazer aims to understand how these practices contributed to the structure of ancient societies and reveals broader patterns within human culture and thought. The work details the similarities of numerous world religions, highlighting death and rebirth as crucial elements of fecundity and survival. It has had a significant influence on contemporary European literature and thought, despite some criticisms regarding Frazer's methodology and interpretations[1][2][5].
The Book of Virtues
William J. Bennett
The Book of Virtues is a comprehensive anthology edited by William J. Bennett, intended to aid in the moral education of children. The book contains 370 passages across ten chapters, each dedicated to a different virtue, including self-discipline, compassion, responsibility, friendship, work, courage, perseverance, honesty, loyalty, and faith. The selections are drawn from a wide range of sources, including the Bible, Greek mythology, Aesop's Fables, William Shakespeare, and works by authors like Charles Dickens, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Oscar Wilde. The book is designed to be used for browsing and bookmarking, with the aim of teaching children moral literacy and helping them develop good character. The 30th anniversary edition includes new figures such as Mother Teresa, Colin Powell, and heroes of 9/11 and the War in Afghanistan, continuing its legacy of promoting moral education[1][4][3].
The Four Loves
C.S. Lewis
In 'The Four Loves', C.S. Lewis examines the nature of love from a Christian and philosophical perspective. He categorizes love into four types based on ancient Greek words: *storge* (affection), *philia* (friendship), *eros* (romantic love), and *agape* (the love of God). Lewis discusses the characteristics, strengths, and potential pitfalls of each type of love, emphasizing the importance of understanding and balancing these loves to avoid corruption and to draw closer to God. He also explores the distinction between 'need-love' and 'gift-love' and how these concepts relate to human experiences and divine love[1][3][4].
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].
The Screwtape Letters
C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters is a Christian apologetic novel written in a satirical, epistolary style. It consists of 31 letters from Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to 'Our Father Below' (the Devil), to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon tasked with securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. The letters provide advice on various methods of undermining God's influence and promoting abandonment of God, while offering insights into human nature and the Bible. The book is a profound and striking narrative on spiritual warfare and the power of the devil, highlighting the subtle forms of sin such as vanity, pride, and distraction that can lead humans away from God[1][3][4].
Myth Made Fact
C.S. Lewis
On the shoulders of hobbits
Louis Markos
In 'On the Shoulders of Hobbits', Louis Markos delves into the works of Tolkien and Lewis to uncover the virtues embedded in their stories. The book is divided into sections on the road, classical virtues, theological virtues, and evil, providing a thoughtful exploration of how these authors' faith influenced their writing. Markos uses examples from 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Chronicles of Narnia' to illustrate these virtues, making the book accessible to both academic and general readers.
Lewis agonistes
Louis Markos
In 'Lewis Agonistes', Louis Markos examines how C.S. Lewis's philosophical and literary works can provide guidance in addressing contemporary issues such as the New Age movement and postmodernism. The book offers insights into how Lewis's thought can be applied to wrestle with the complexities of the modern and postmodern world.
The Chronicles of Narnia : The Magician's Nephew
C.S. Lewis
Dramatization
The Magician's Nephew is a portal fantasy novel that tells the story of Digory and Polly, two children who stumble upon magical rings created by Digory's uncle. These rings lead them to various worlds, including the desolate land of Charn and the newly created world of Narnia. The novel explores themes of creation, temptation, and the struggle between good and evil. It is the sixth published book in The Chronicles of Narnia series but is often read as the first due to its chronological setting.
Like Plato, C.S. Lewis believed that the human soul was made up of three parts — the head (the rational, reason-driven part of you), the belly (your appetites and base instincts), and the chest (the seat of virtue-seeking sentiments and well-tuned emotions). In order for your head to make your decisions, particularly the decision to live a virtuous life, rather than your decisions being driven by your belly, the head needs the aid of the chest, of right feeling.
A few months ago, we had Michael Ward on the show to talk about why C.S. Lewis felt that modern life was making “men without chests.” Today, I talk to a guest who can shed light on what Lewis thought was needed to build that chest back up. His name is Louis Markos and he’s a professor of English, as well as the lecturer of the Great Courses course: The Life and Writings of C.S. Lewis. At the start of our conversation, Lou gives us some background on Lewis’ life, including his conversion to Christianity, and how the nature of that conversion influenced his thinking on how to pursue virtue more broadly. We then talk about Lewis’ philosophical argument for there being a universal moral order, and why the chest is so vital for staying grounded in it. We spend the rest of our discussion unpacking the three ways Lewis believed the chest could be “educated”: reading stories and myths, rejecting “chronological snobbery” to learn from the past, and developing friendships that inspire excellence.
Resources Related to the Podcast
- Louis’ Great Courses course: The Life and Writings of C.S. Lewis
- The books Louis has authored
- AoM Podcast #430: Why You Need to Join the Great Conversation About the Great Books
- AoM Article: The Power of Conversation — A Lesson From C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien
- AoM article on Plato’s view of the tripartite nature of the soul
- AoM series on Norse mythology
- AoM Podcast #178: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Inklings Mastermind Group
- The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion by James George Frazer
- The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
- The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
- The Chronicles of Narnia — The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
- The Book of Virtues by William Bennett
- AoM Article: The Winston Churchill School of Adulthood — Cultivate a Nostalgic Love for History
- AoM article on C.S. Lewis’ advice on overcoming the “horror of the same old thing”
- AoM articles and podcasts on friendship