\u201cFor the wise men of old the cardinal problem had been how to conform the soul to reality, and the solution had been knowledge, self-discipline, and virtue,\u201d he writes. \u201cFor magic and applied science alike the problem is how to subdue reality to the wishes of men: the solution is technique; and both, in the practice of this technique, are ready to do things hitherto regarded as disgusting and impious\u2014such as digging up and mutilating the dead.\u201d [p. 78] . . . .<\/p>\n
Lewis\u2019s larger argument in \u201cThe Abolition of Man\u201d is that man\u2019s conquest of nature is chimerical; it ends with nature\u2019s conquest of man. Having debunked all tradition and morality through the wonders of applied science, having succeeded in reducing all of human life to mere biological functions that can be precisely manipulated, mankind will \u201cbe henceforth free to make our species whatever we wish it to be.\u201d [p. 60]<\/p>\n
But therein lies the problem, says Lewis. Without any standards by which to judge what man\u00a0ought\u00a0<\/em>to be, this new species of mankind will be reduced to following the mere whims of pleasure and instinct: \u201cWhen all that says \u2018it is good\u2019 has been debunked, what says \u2018I want\u2019 remains.\u201d [p. 66]<\/p><\/blockquote>\nWhat applications do you see of this dichotomy between conforming to reality and insisting that reality conform to us?\u00a0 It seems to me that it can describe vast worldview issues and also the mindsets and expectations of individual personalities.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/305\/2018\/05\/virtual-reality-2229924_1280.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n