A dogmatic belief in objective value is necessary to the very idea of a rule which is not tyranny or an obedience which is not slavery.
C. S. LewisRead
Morality, like numinous awe, is a jump; in it, man goes beyond anything that can be 'given' in the facts of experience.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Morality transcends mere facts of experience, requiring a leap of faith or understanding.
In this quote, C. S. Lewis suggests that morality is not something that can be fully understood or defined by empirical evidence alone. Instead, it represents a deeper, intuitive understanding that pushes human beings to transcend their experiences and engage with a higher realm of values and principles. This 'jump' indicates that moral insights often lie beyond the observable world, demanding a recognition of a moral dimension that goes beyond mere facts.
Themes
MoralityExperienceFaithValuesTranscendence
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about ethical decision-making, this quote can highlight the limitations of purely factual reasoning.
More from C. S. Lewis
All quotes βI enjoyed my breakfast this morning, and I think that was a good thing and do not think it was condemned by God. But I do not think myself a good man for enjoying it.
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Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
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Forgiving and being forgiven are two names for the same thing. The important thing is that a discord has been resolved.
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I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
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The instrument through which you see God is your whole self. And if a man's self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred
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