Michael Malarkey 

The Abolition of Man: Introductory Blog

Salutations! My name is Michael Malarkey, and I am a 19 year old rookie Bison from Berwyn, Pennsylvania. My interests include writing, debate, recreational sports, and spending time with friends. My lankiness and Wadlow-esque stature often prompt passersby to make original remarks such as, “Wow, you must play basketball!” or “how’s the weather up there?”. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t play much basketball; and despite the occasional altitude sickness, I’m faring just fine. 

Humor aside, this seminar piqued my attention. Most folks associate Tolkien and Lewis merely with their best known prose: The Lords of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia, respectively. This is understandable — but surface level. My aim is to understand these two pioneers of modern fantasy beyond their pièce(s) de résistance, recognize history’s impact on their outlooks towards totalitarianism, and take an analytical scalpel to two brilliant minds.

C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man is a perfect starting block. In what sometimes seems like a stream-of-consciousness, Lewis advocates moral objectivity. As a self-proclaimed theist, he argues that humans subscribe subconsciously to a vague, yet ubiquitous set of ethical standards, which he broadly refers to as the Tao, defined as “the sole source of all value judgments.” This ingrained code, he claims, is not static. It can be enhanced, subject to advancement through gradual human enlightenment. However, this malleability is limited, as the Tao must operate still within a timeless apparatus. 

This appeal to moral objectivity resonated deeply with me. It lacked the hefty (and all too common) baggage of dogmatism, and outlined clearly the dangers of its alternative. A moral compass guided by subjective premises is no compass at all, and a proven recipe for chaos. I too consider it a dangerous philosophy — one that allows people to justify questionable acts through convenient thinking, and in doing so suppress their conscience. The global horrors which plagued the twentieth century serve as undying testament to Lewis’ viewpoint, as this peril was demonstrated through millions of deaths, lest we forget.