As a 20th-century writer, C. S. Lewis responded to a variety of contemporary issues that he saw and experienced. Lewis used his writing to combat and correct the educational shifts and standards of his modern England, making him a problem solver; in The Abolition of Man, he claims that England 's education system has created "men without chests," and he calls for sentimentality and values to be re-instilled by offering the Tao as the solution.
Before Lewis can correct a problem in society, he must first identify the issue, it’s origin, and why it is detrimental for humanity. During Lewis’ time, the educational institutions of England had adopted the technique of simply pointing out what was false and “cutting down jungles” rather than assisting …show more content…
S. Lewis believed that education has a purpose, task, target, and value. The purpose of education is to create a “good man” (Lee 95). Lewis viewed that education’s task is to “irrigate deserts” or grow one’s mind into a flourishing, fertile land (Heck 24). The “realization of human ideas” serves as the target of education (Lee 98). The value of education is the recognition of leisure activities and their potential (Lee 98). Lewis believed universities should implement learning rather than teaching (Lee 96). Lewis thought that a college student should already be a well-rounded person, and if that is the case, students and professors should see each other as fellow learners who desire to learn for the sake of knowledge. Lewis’s standards of education derived from his strong classical, liberal arts education, and he favored the arts and critical thinking as essential avenues for learning (Heck 31). Literary experiences and liberal arts are one of the main ways a student can experience internal transformation; however, these literary experiences must be paired with heath and appropriate action and behavior (Lee 95). Intentional actions with the proper purpose have the power to create people’s realities. Lewis’ liberal and classical approach to education is a stark contrast from the 20th-century education in England, but merely holding these views was not enough for him; he had to expound upon them by writing The Abolition of Man and solve the crooked pursuit of …show more content…
“Men Without Chests” introduces The Green Book, a specific problem that relates to the larger issue of English schools and universities. Lewis shows the danger of Gaius and Titius’ subjectivism and emotionless use of language; he argues that emotions are necessary for learning and can be rational (Pelser 31). The second essay further objects to “value free” philosophy by writing against the “debunking” that Gaius and Titius advocate for. “Debunking’’ or ‘‘seeing through’’ the values hidden in other peoples’ thoughts are usually used selectively, which is problematic (Lee 102). Lewis states that this self-serving selectivity can hide the fact that all schools, all forms of knowledge, all methods of study, and all models of rationality contain concealed values that give them their sense and coherence (Lee 102) In “The Abolition of Man” essay, Lewis writes about the scientific and social control of human behavior (Lee 102). He questions all of these efforts of education with the question: to what end? (Lee 102). To truly answer this question, it is necessary for a value system to be present. These essays all lead of up Lewis’ answer for the problem of education, which he calls the
Before Lewis can correct a problem in society, he must first identify the issue, it’s origin, and why it is detrimental for humanity. During Lewis’ time, the educational institutions of England had adopted the technique of simply pointing out what was false and “cutting down jungles” rather than assisting …show more content…
S. Lewis believed that education has a purpose, task, target, and value. The purpose of education is to create a “good man” (Lee 95). Lewis viewed that education’s task is to “irrigate deserts” or grow one’s mind into a flourishing, fertile land (Heck 24). The “realization of human ideas” serves as the target of education (Lee 98). The value of education is the recognition of leisure activities and their potential (Lee 98). Lewis believed universities should implement learning rather than teaching (Lee 96). Lewis thought that a college student should already be a well-rounded person, and if that is the case, students and professors should see each other as fellow learners who desire to learn for the sake of knowledge. Lewis’s standards of education derived from his strong classical, liberal arts education, and he favored the arts and critical thinking as essential avenues for learning (Heck 31). Literary experiences and liberal arts are one of the main ways a student can experience internal transformation; however, these literary experiences must be paired with heath and appropriate action and behavior (Lee 95). Intentional actions with the proper purpose have the power to create people’s realities. Lewis’ liberal and classical approach to education is a stark contrast from the 20th-century education in England, but merely holding these views was not enough for him; he had to expound upon them by writing The Abolition of Man and solve the crooked pursuit of …show more content…
“Men Without Chests” introduces The Green Book, a specific problem that relates to the larger issue of English schools and universities. Lewis shows the danger of Gaius and Titius’ subjectivism and emotionless use of language; he argues that emotions are necessary for learning and can be rational (Pelser 31). The second essay further objects to “value free” philosophy by writing against the “debunking” that Gaius and Titius advocate for. “Debunking’’ or ‘‘seeing through’’ the values hidden in other peoples’ thoughts are usually used selectively, which is problematic (Lee 102). Lewis states that this self-serving selectivity can hide the fact that all schools, all forms of knowledge, all methods of study, and all models of rationality contain concealed values that give them their sense and coherence (Lee 102) In “The Abolition of Man” essay, Lewis writes about the scientific and social control of human behavior (Lee 102). He questions all of these efforts of education with the question: to what end? (Lee 102). To truly answer this question, it is necessary for a value system to be present. These essays all lead of up Lewis’ answer for the problem of education, which he calls the