Precis for C.S. Lewis' "The Abolition of Man"

In C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man, the key argument revolves around the claim that Man’s conquest of Nature, which is the power of some men over others, to be the progress of applied science. “Man’s power is a power possessed by some men, which they may or may not allow other men to profit by.” This piece seems to be pitched for future generation audiences warning them about the hazardous effects of technological advancements. The more power we develop through the use of applied science, the more some men will misuse the power against other men. And this has an ultimate outcome: the downfall of Man.

The political nature of the argument is seen in the discussion of Conditioners. These small groups of men have the power to make other men do what they please. “By eugenics, pre-natal conditioning, and an education [scientific] and propaganda based on perfect applied psychology, man will obtain full control over himself.” Conditioners are said to be creatures motivated by their own pleasures, who subject the entire human race to their every whim.

“Man’s conquest of Nature means the rule of hundreds of men over billions upon billions of men,” with future generation being subordinate to the power of earlier generations. The argument seems to advocate people revoking their support for so much technological advancement through science because the more progress and development that is achieved, the more Man’s downfall seems to come at hand. Advancements seem to work against Man as well as work for the convenience of Man.

The moral and ethical nature of the pieces is clear with the discussion of the Tao. The Tao, which is also known as Natural Law, Traditional Morality, First Principles of Practical Reason, or First Platitudes, is used as a main system of values that “provides a common human law of action which can over-arch rulers and those being ruled.” Any new or existing system of values consists of fragments of the Tao; and his use of figurative language helps to convey this universal system everyone can embrace, such as the metaphor explaining our intrinsic separation from the values of the Tao comparing to the branch trying to separate itself from the tree.

Men who follow the Tao have power over themselves (self-control), but men who stray from the teaching of the Tao become subject to Conditioners. Interestingly, however, Conditioners are able to create the type of Tao system the human race will have to follow, so there is no real escape from their desire to fulfill their own selfish pleasures. And Man’s conquest over himself will be due to the rule of these conditioners over their subjects.