The Abolition of Man

"C.S. Lewis is the ideal persuader for the half-convinced, for the good man who would like to be a Christian but finds his intellect getting in the way." —Anthony Burgess, New York Times Book Review
"No writer of popular apologetics today is more effective than Mr. C.S. Lewis.” —The Times Literary Supplement

First published in 1943, ‘The Abolition of Man’ is a thought-provoking philosophical work by C.S. Lewis that defends the existence of objective moral values in a world increasingly embracing relativism. Originally presented as a series of lectures, the book warns of the dangers that arise when society abandons universal truths and ethical foundations.
Lewis argues that without a shared moral framework—what he terms the “Tao”—humanity risks losing its essential nature, leading to manipulation and the devaluation of human dignity. He critiques modern education and culture for promoting subjective thinking, which he believes can result in the “abolition” of true manhood and virtue.
With clear and persuasive prose, Lewis explores the consequences of moral skepticism and the reduction of humans to mere objects of control. He advocates for a renewed commitment to natural law and the cultivation of timeless virtues that uphold human integrity.
‘The Abolition of Man’ remains a vital and influential work that challenges readers to reflect on the foundations of ethics, education, and the preservation of humanity’s moral compass in the modern age.

CLIVE STAPLES LEWIS (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a fellow and tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954 when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics, the Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.