Great Responsibility In C. S. Lewis 'Men Without Chest'
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
In The Abolition of Man, C. S. Lewis tries to persuade people about the importance of universal values such as courage and honor in a modern society. Lewis discusses several issues that I can apply to business or legal issues, such as listening to my heart, staying within the Tao, and using power respectfully.
In “Men without Chest,” Lewis is upset about the Green Book because the teachings of Gaius and Titius are affecting the minds of the children and leaving them with no ethics, theology, or politics. Gaius and Titius are making men with no chest (or no heart). Romans 1: 18-20 states, “ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” Although Gaius and Titius are making men without chest, the school boys will be …show more content…
without excuse for immoral decisions. As an ethical business or legal decisions arise, I have learned to consider the message that I am sending to others when I speak. If I am facing a legal decision, I do not want to send out a message that will teach a younger generation an immoral act.
In chapter two, Lewis speaks of “The Way” or “The Tao.” The Tao is referred to as “the greatest thing,” or “the reality beyond all predicates, the abyss that was before the Creator Himself.” Lewis reflects on the values that become no value if the Tao is rejected, which causes man to rely on instinct.
Man has a spirit and a carnal body. If instinct takes over, the carnal body relies on what is best for the body. The apostle Paul refers to this as, “fulfilling the lust of the flesh” in Galatians 5:16. Animals have instincts, but we are different from animals in that we have emotional intellect, we can re-train ourselves, and we can think about the consequences of our actions. A legal issue may become illegal if I rely on my instinct because my instinct is not always right. In order to have the correct values, I have to apply the
Tao.
In chapter three, “The Abolition of Man,” Lewis uses airplanes, the wireless, and contraceptives to express the power that men have. The men that have power are really using the power from other men. In order to ride an airplane, the owner of the plane must allow the passenger on his plane. All the powers over nature are powers of some people over others. Even with the contraceptives, the person using the contraceptive has power over the unborn. In a business issue, I have learned that power does not really mean I have power. The only power I have is the power that is allowed from the person above me, so I should always be considerate to those I have power over.
Values and honor are important in business and legal issues. Without values and honor, I will act out of instinct, which will ultimately conflict with the Tao. Through the reading of The Abolition of Man, I have learned to listen to my heart in business and legal issues and to use power respectfully. In 2 Timothy 1:5, the Apostle Paul told Timothy, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” As with Lewis and Apostle Paul’s advice, I will remember to stay within the limits of the Tao.
In The Abolition of Man, C. S. Lewis tries to persuade people about the importance of universal values such as courage and honor in a modern society. Lewis discusses several issues that I can apply to business or legal issues, such as listening to my heart, staying within the Tao, and using power respectfully.
In “Men without Chest,” Lewis is upset about the Green Book because the teachings of Gaius and Titius are affecting the minds of the children and leaving them with no ethics, theology, or politics. Gaius and Titius are making men with no chest (or no heart). Romans 1: 18-20 states, “ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” Although Gaius and Titius are making men without chest, the school boys will be …show more content…
without excuse for immoral decisions. As an ethical business or legal decisions arise, I have learned to consider the message that I am sending to others when I speak. If I am facing a legal decision, I do not want to send out a message that will teach a younger generation an immoral act.
In chapter two, Lewis speaks of “The Way” or “The Tao.” The Tao is referred to as “the greatest thing,” or “the reality beyond all predicates, the abyss that was before the Creator Himself.” Lewis reflects on the values that become no value if the Tao is rejected, which causes man to rely on instinct.
Man has a spirit and a carnal body. If instinct takes over, the carnal body relies on what is best for the body. The apostle Paul refers to this as, “fulfilling the lust of the flesh” in Galatians 5:16. Animals have instincts, but we are different from animals in that we have emotional intellect, we can re-train ourselves, and we can think about the consequences of our actions. A legal issue may become illegal if I rely on my instinct because my instinct is not always right. In order to have the correct values, I have to apply the
Tao.
In chapter three, “The Abolition of Man,” Lewis uses airplanes, the wireless, and contraceptives to express the power that men have. The men that have power are really using the power from other men. In order to ride an airplane, the owner of the plane must allow the passenger on his plane. All the powers over nature are powers of some people over others. Even with the contraceptives, the person using the contraceptive has power over the unborn. In a business issue, I have learned that power does not really mean I have power. The only power I have is the power that is allowed from the person above me, so I should always be considerate to those I have power over.
Values and honor are important in business and legal issues. Without values and honor, I will act out of instinct, which will ultimately conflict with the Tao. Through the reading of The Abolition of Man, I have learned to listen to my heart in business and legal issues and to use power respectfully. In 2 Timothy 1:5, the Apostle Paul told Timothy, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” As with Lewis and Apostle Paul’s advice, I will remember to stay within the limits of the Tao.