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    C.S.Lewis On The Dangerous Politics of Progress

    Cover for C.S.Lewis On The Dangerous Politics of Progress
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    Creator
    Hill, Kimberly R.
    Advisor
    Howard, Marc M
    Abstract
    It seems odd to write an essay about the political philosophy of an author who was avowedly apolitical. It is true that C.S. Lewis eschewed party politics. In fact, when offered knighthood by Winston Churchill for his literary contributions and radio addresses during World War II, Lewis declined on the grounds that he did not want the public to think he was merely a mouthpiece of Britain's Conservative party. Nonetheless, the classically-trained Lewis also realized that human beings are, by nature, political animals and will create order in our societies almost unconsciously. Therefore, in his frequent writings about the nature of man and contemporary social issues, Lewis made great contributions to political philosophy, particularly where natural law crosses paths with modernism, in terms of science and progress.
     
    This paper will analyze the contribution Lewis makes to the understanding of politics through two of his works: the well-known lecture series, The Abolition of Man, and his less-well-known novel That Hideous Strength, which is the third novel of his Space Trilogy. Both works grapple with the consequences of modern man's desire to control his destiny by reconstructing his world through science and education--a desire that has not changed in the intervening decades. Lewis argues that such control is illusory, but the consequences of striving for that control are very real and, potentially, very dire.
     
    This paper will analyze the contribution Lewis makes to the understanding of politics through two of his works: the well-known lecture series, The Abolition of Man, and his less-well-known novel That Hideous Strength, which is the third novel of his Space Trilogy. Both works grapple with the consequences of modern man's desire to control his destiny by reconstructing his world through science and education--a desire that has not changed in the intervening decades. Lewis argues that such control is illusory, but the consequences of striving for that control are very real and, potentially, very dire.
     
    Description
    M.A.
    Permanent Link
    http://hdl.handle.net/10822/712438
    Date Published
    2014
    Subject
    Abolition of Man; C.S. Lewis; Friedrich Nietzsche; Political Philosophy; Politics; Progressive Education; Political Science; Education; Philosophy; Political Science; Philosophy of education;
    Type
    thesis
    Publisher
    Georgetown University
    Extent
    30 leaves
    Collections
    • Department of Government
    Metadata
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    Georgetown University Seal
    ©2009 - 2022 Georgetown University Library
    37th & O Streets NW
    Washington DC 20057-1174
    202.687.7385
    digitalscholarship@georgetown.edu
    Accessibility