The Law of Human Nature | C. S. Lewis

Deep Dive into Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis - The Law of Human NatureC. S. Lewis argues that all clear thinking about humanity is founded on two universal facts: human beings possess an inherent understanding of how they ought to behave, and yet they consistently fail to live up to that standard. This innate moral standard is the "Law of Human Nature," an unwritten rule of right and wrong or decent behavior that is universally recognized across different cultures and ages.The strongest evidence for this Law lies in everyday quarreling. When people argue, they appeal to a shared understanding of fair play, expecting the other party to know and acknowledge the rules. The person accused rarely rejects this standard but instead offers excuses or justifications for their actions, implicitly confirming their belief in the underlying moral agreement. If no such agreement existed, human disputes would be mere animalistic fighting.This Moral Law is fundamentally distinct from physical laws, like gravitation or biology, which govern the material world and which objects cannot disobey. The crucial characteristic of the Law of Human Nature is that individuals are free to choose whether to obey or disregard it. This freedom highlights humanity’s unique position. Lewis stresses that this moral code is truly universal; while specific customs may vary, core principles, such as condemning selfishness or betrayal, are consistent across civilizations, making a totally different morality inconceivable.Despite this universal knowledge, no one perfectly keeps the Law of Human Nature. This universal failure is proven by our instinct to make excuses for bad actions. People generate justifications—such as being tired, busy, or financially strained—to explain away their transgressions. This intense anxiety to justify indecent behavior serves as further proof of their deep-seated belief in the Moral Law, demonstrating that they cannot bear to face the fact that they are breaking a rule they know to be true. Ultimately, the habit of making excuses is an involuntary testament to the objective reality of the moral standard pressing upon us.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730