College - Author 1
College of Liberal Arts
Department - Author 1
Communication Studies Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BA in Communication Studies
Date
6-2024
Primary Advisor
Lauren Kolodziejski, College of Liberal Arts, Communication Studies Department
Abstract/Summary
C.S. Lewis's The Abolition of Man stands as a remarkable examination of the mid-19th century shift towards moral subjectivism. With a detailed study of this text, this essay will utilize ideological and Postmodern criticism to reveal how Lewis builds his defense of objective morality, or what he calls the "Tao," against the educational spread of relativism. The heart of the analysis is the examination of Lewis's use of ideographs. Terms such as "the Tao," "Men without Chests," and "the Abolition of Man'' not only criticize the philosophical trends of the time but also tap into a deep cultural current of the wartime era. These ideas themselves serve as a battleground for the ideological conflict of the time, embodying a wide variety of connotations and meanings to the reader. This essay additionally utilizes postmodern criticism to reveal the real-world implications of Lewis's arguments in a contemporary context, especially in an age of skepticism towards universal truths and grand narratives. Overall, Lewis's central thesis for the preservation of past moral guidance continually asks us to consider the foundations upon which our society is built. By analyzing his diction, rhetorical strategies, and ideological undercurrents, this essay seeks to critically assess Lewis's literary defense of objective moral truth.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/comssp/271
Included in
Applied Ethics Commons, Christianity Commons, Other Classics Commons, Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons