Lewis and others have pointed to the practical importance of cultivating proper emotions through good stories, which play a profound role in shaping our affections.ĭebunking all feelings as subjective emoting will inexorably lead to the abolition of what makes us human, and we will become ‘ex-men.’ Debunking all feelings as subjective emoting will inexorably lead to the abolition of what makes us human, and we will become “ex-men” (16), but not the cool kind. For example, one of Lewis’s most important contentions is that it’s possible for emotions to be so tuned that they’re in harmony with reality-“just sentiments,” in Lewis’s phrasing. But instead of summarizing more of After Humanity, I’ll briefly point out two benefits of Ward’s guide.įirst, Ward helps readers deepen their understanding of the insights in The Abolition of Man. The overview in chapter 3 and the commentary and gloss in chapter 7 yield some of the clearest benefits to anyone reading or teaching Abolition. The final chapter evaluates Abolition from a broader perspective that synthesizes major elements of the book. Ward supplies much of the commentary, but he also generously sprinkles in block quotations from secondary sources. The first six chapters consist of short essays on topics such as the reception of Abolition, its occasion and context, background, and legacy.Ĭhapter 7, by far the longest, provides glosses on terms and people, plus a detailed commentary on almost every page of Abolition. In fact, those who purchase After Humanity directly from the publisher will receive a companion copy of Abolition.Īfter Humanity has eight chapters, not including a 36-figure photo gallery and 33 discussion questions. But unlike Smith’s guide (intended to introduce Taylor’s ideas to those who don’t have time to work through 900 pages of secularization theory), Ward’s guide is not meant to replace Lewis’s work. Like Jamie Smith’s guide to Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age, Ward’s guide to Abolition is not meant (for the most part) to evaluate Lewis’s arguments (3). Michael Ward (author of Planet Narnia) has written such a book to help readers: After Humanity: A Guide to C. Yet Abolition remains difficult reading for many people, leading some to wish for a guide. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man, first published in 1943, begins with a related question: Should a comment about the sublimity of a waterfall be seen as an expression of a subjective opinion or as an appropriate feeling that aligns with reality?Ībolition was one of Lewis’s favorites among his works and it has been ranked as one of the top five nonfiction books (in English) of the 20th century. With moving visual images, stirring music, and a noble theme of hope and perseverance through adversity, the film continues to evoke strong emotions from viewers.īut how reliable are emotions? Do they have any reference to reality, or are they purely subjective responses to external stimuli? C. One of the most dramatic scenes, set in South America in the mid-18th century, occurs toward the beginning when a Jesuit priest is rejected by an indigenous tribe, tied to a cross, and pushed over the largest waterfall in the world. A few months ago, for the first time, I watched the 1986 film The Mission, starring Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, Liam Neeson, and others.
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