CS Lewis - Prophet

 Been reading a bit about CSLewis, specifically "The Abolition of Man". What a triumph of thought.

This was written all the way back in 1943, yet the thoughts around the dangers of relativism and the belief that there are no objective or universal truths and values are as apt now as they were back then. In fact, to me, it seems as if his dystopian vision of a world being controlled by a select group of "Conditioners" who decide, on a whim, what the current values are, is pretty much becoming a reality every day.

CS Lewis believed that there were a set a values (he called the "Tao") which has persevered throughout all civilisations and all times that we should be using as a basis for Good and Evil.

Roughly these involve the following

1. The Law of General Beneficence -Look after everyone

2. The Law of Special Beneficence - Look after those you know - Friends, Countries, Family

3. Duties to Parents, Elders and Ancestors - Honour those that came before

4. Duties to children and posterity - value children and reproduction

5. Justice - Sexual (no adultery), Stealing (no theft), Judgement (no bribes/corruption)

6. Good faith (Try to be honest)

7.  Mercy (Look after the weak)

8. Magnanimity (Be brave and forgiving)

I think a few of these are still alive (1,7) but quite a few are on life support (2,3,4,5,8).

 Unfortunately in todays world, there seems to be only 3 absolute values are being raised in their place

1. Duties to minorities (in race, gender and sexual orientation)

2. Duties to the environment (maybe fits into value 4, but loosely as environment values population control)

3. Duty to yourself (to be happy)

Not sure that is enough to provide a path to a good life. You need more.