The Reality of the Law | C. S. Lewis

Deep Dive into Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis - The Reality of the LawThe author begins by identifying two notable characteristics of the human race: the widespread recognition of a standard of behavior, often called fair play, decency, or the Law of Nature, and the universal failure of people to consistently practice it. This quest is aimed at finding truth regarding this dual observation, not assigning blame for human imperfection.A key point of distinction is drawn between humanity and the rest of the physical universe, such as stones or trees. When discussing inanimate objects, physical laws merely describe what those objects, in fact, do (e.g., stones always obey the law of gravitation). There is no requirement for a stone to behave differently than it does. However, the Law of Human Nature, or the Law of Decent Behaviour, is fundamentally different because it dictates what human beings ought to do, even though they do not always adhere to it. This indicates that when dealing with humans, there is a reality existing "above and beyond the actual facts" of their behavior.The moral law cannot be explained away as simply defining behavior that is personally inconvenient. For instance, one blames a man who intentionally trips them, even if he fails to hurt them, but not a man who causes an accidental injury. Furthermore, moral judgment applies even when the behavior is useful to oneself, such as regarding a traitor as "human vermin" despite utilizing his services. Decent behavior often necessitates actions contrary to self-interest, such as keeping promises or being truthful when it is inconvenient.Finally, the author dismisses the argument that morality is merely what pays the human race as a whole. While societal safety and happiness depend on fairness, replying that one ought to be unselfish because it is good for society is circular; it simply returns to the starting point that men ought to be unselfish. Since the Moral Law is not a mere fact, fancy, or convenience, this Rule of Right and Wrong must be a real, objective thing that none of us made, but which we find pressing on us.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730