book one right and wrong as a clue to the meaning of …
TRANSCRIPT
BOOK ONERIGHT AND WRONG AS
A CLUE TO THE MEANING OF THE UNIVERSE
THE THEME OF BOOK ONE
THE PROOF OF GODWITHOUT SCRIPTURE
¡ THOMAS AQUINAS (THE PRIME MOVER & SIX OTHER PROOFS)
¡ ST. ANSELM (ONTOLOGICAL OR ‘DEFINITION OF GOD’ PROOF)
¡ MANY OTHERS (DESCARTES, KANT, ETC.)
¡ LEWIS USES A MORAL PROOF THAT IS ESSENTIALLY PLATONIC.
THE FOUNDATION OF THIS PROOF IS SUMMARIZED AT THE END
OF THE CHAPTER.
THE PROOF OF GODWITHOUT SCRIPTURE
BOOK ONEPp. 3 - 8
THE LAW OF HUMAN NATURE
BOOK ONEPG.8
“FIRST, THAT HUMAN BEINGS…HAVE THIS CURIOUS IDEA THAT THEY
OUTGHT TO BEHAVE IN A CERTAIN WAY, AND CANNOT REALLY GET RID
OF IT.”
“SECONDLY, THAT THEY DO NOT IN FACT BEHAVE IN THAT WAY.”
“THESE TWO FACTS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF ALL CLEAR
THINKING ABOUT OURSELVES AND THE UNIVERSE WE LIVE IN.”
BOOK ONEPp. 3 - 8
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER NATURAL LAWS (LIKE GRAVITY)?
BOOK ONEPp. 3 - 8
WHAT EVIDENCE DOES LEWIS OFFER TO PROVE
THAT THE LAW OF HUMAN NATURE IS
TRULY UNIVERSAL?
BOOK ONEPp. 3 - 8
WHAT EVIDENCE DOES LEWIS OFFER THAT WE DO NOT KEEP THE LAW
OF HUMAN NATURE?
BOOK ONEPp. 9 - 15OBJECTIONS
1. THE HERD INSTINCT
1. THE MORAL LAW IS NOT AN INSTINTCT BECAUSE IT SITS ABOVE INSTINCT, CHOOSING AMONG THE INSTINCTS; IT IS THEREFORE IS NOT AN INSTINCT ITSELF (THE MUSIC AND THE KEYS ARE NOT THE SAME).
LEWIS’ REPLY
2. THE MORAL LAW IS NOT AN INSTINTCT BECAUSE IT CHOOSES AMONG CONFLICTING INSTINCTS (THE MUSIC, WHICH CHOOSES WHICH NOTE SHOULD BE LOUDER OR SOFTER, IS NOT A NOTE)
LEWIS’ REPLY
3. THE MORAL LAW IS NOT AN INSTINTCT BECAUSE IT DEFINES WHICH INSTINCT IS PROPER TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT CHOOSES WHICH NOTE IS RIGHT AND WHICH IS WRONG IN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
LEWIS’ REPLY
2. SOCIAL CONVENTION
¡CONVENTIONS§DRIVING ON
LEFT/RIGHT§SOUP FOR BREAKFAST
¡NATURAL LAWS§GRAVITY§HUMAN NATURE
LEWIS’ REPLY
MOST PEOPLE AND CULTURES AGREE ON A COMMON STANDARD.
HUMAN NATURE IS NOT A CONVENTION
WE BELIEVE SOME MORAL STANDARDS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS BECAUSE WE JUDGE THEM AGAINST A HIGHER STANDARD.
HUMAN NATURE IS NOT A CONVENTION
WE COMPARE MORAL STANDARDS AGAINST AN IDEAL MORAL STANDARD.
PLATO
THE LAW OF HUMAN NATURE DOES NOT CHANGE WITH GREATER KNOWLEDGE
PG.16-20 IS REALLY A RESTATEMENT AND A FURTHER OBJECTION
THE REALITY OF THE LAW
THE LAW OF HUMAN NATURE IS NOT WHAT IS CONVENIENT/BENEFITICAL TO ME
THE LAW OF HUMAN NATURE IS NOT THE SAME AS WHAT BENEFITS SOCIET Y AS A WHOLE
PG.21-27WHAT LIES
BEHIND THE LAW
1. MATERIALIST2. RELIGIOUS3. EMERGENT
EVOLUTION (END OF CHAPTER)
CHOOSING AMONG THREE EXPLANATIONS
1. FROM EXPERIENCE (a posteriori): if aliens studied our behavior would they deduce the law of human nature? No.
KINDS OF KNOWLEDGE AS A CLUE TO CHOOSING BETWEEN WORLDVIEW
Science (a kind of experiential knowledge) cannot help us choose between the explanations because the question is beyond the scope of the scientific method.
CHOOSING AMONG EXPLANATIONS
¡ If all we can do is observe the way the universe behaves (experience it), we cannot deduce from that behavior the existence of a power behind it.
¡Deists would differ with Lewis here and Lewis will return to this idea
CHOOSING AMONG EXPLANATIONS
2. FROM INSIDE (a priori): when we study ourselves, do we find the law at work? Yes
KINDS OF KNOWLEDGE AS A CLUE TO CHOOSING
¡Creative or Emergent Evolution
¡The problem of attributing personal attributes to an impersonal force
¡Bergson and Shaw
A THIRD EXPLANATION
¡ “In the heat of composition I find that I have inadvertently allowed myself to assume the form of a large centipede…Some rumor of [this kind of transformation] has readed the humans and a distorted account…appears in Milton, with the ridiculous addition that such changes of shape are a “punishment” imposed on us [the demons] by the Ememy [God]. A more modern writer—someone with a name like Pshaw[*]—has grasped the truth. Transformation proceeds from within and is a glorious manifestation that Life Force which Our Father [Satan] would worship if he worshipped anything but himself.”
¡ * Pshaw also means nonsense.
THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, LETTER XXII
PG.28-32 (more objections)
WE HAVE CAUSE TO BE UNEASY
¡ If the clock is wrong, the most sensible thing to do is put it back.
¡ If you have taken a wrong turn, the most progressive decision is turn about and take the right turn.
PUTTING THE RELIGIOUS CLOCK BACK
WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT GOD FROM THE UNIVERSE?
THE ANSWERS CHRISTIANIT Y GIVES ONLY MAKE SENSE IF WE UNDERSTAND OUR DIRE SITUATION