FACT OF THE DAY: The Abolition of Man (released 1/6/1944) is the book Lewis did that he claimed addressed “a ‘serious’ point” that is presented in That Hideous Strength. – – – QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It is no use to ask God with facetious earnestness for A when our whole mind is in reality filled …
Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: August 12th
FACT OF THE DAY:
A second edition of The Abolition of Man was published by Geoffrey Bles on this day (8/12) in 1946.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“An open mind, in questions that are not ultimate, is useful. But an open mind about ultimate foundations either of Theoretical or Practical Reason is idiocy. If a man’s mind is open on these things, let his mouth at least be shut.”
The Abolition of Man
(2nd Edition Published 8/12/1946)
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QUIZ OF THE DAY:
What famous ship was built in Belfast where Lewis grew up?
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)
RETROSPECT: August 1st – 11th
Highlights for August 1-11 include: Lewis’s first time ever on the radio, earning of a second First at Oxford and two more letters from Screwtape.
In one sense not a lot of events occurred in Lewis’s life over the years during the first week and a half in August; but then the most significant from this period is likely among the highest points in his entire life. It was on the 6th in 1941 that he stood before a microphone to kick-off the first of four scheduled talks about “Right and Wrong: A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe.” The place was the offices of BBC Home Services and the local time was 7:45 p.m. Over the next fifteen minutes he would speak on “Common Decency,” but later this first chapter of book one in Mere Christianity would be called “The Law of Human Nature.”
RETROSPECT: July 22nd – 31st
Highlights for the period of July 22-31include: Lewis on the radio that wasn’t a part of the eventual Mere Christianity book, the U.S. release of The Four Loves and the publication of a friend’s landmark book that Lewis encouraged the author to write (hint: it has a “ring” to it).
When you consider a person’s life over the years (like this series has with C.S. Lewis), it’s no surprise that there might be a week or two were relatively little significant events happened. Such is the case for this time-period. However, there was a very meaningful moment in the life of a now more famous friend, J.R.R. Tolkien. In 1954 The Fellowship of the Ring was published at the end of July (the actual date is either the 24th or 29th, as I’ve seen both listed).
It’s not just because they were friends that it’s worth mentioning, rather
Fact / Quote / Quiz: April 9th
FACT OF THE DAY:
Today (4/9) in 1941 Lewis gave his first Royal Air Force (RAF) talk at RAF Abingdon, Berkshire, England.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Those who stand outside all judgements of value cannot have any ground for preferring one of their own impulses to another except the emotional strength of that impulse.”
The Abolition of Man
(Published 4/8/1947 as the first U.S. edition)
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QUIZ OF THE DAY:
Complete the quote and name the source (4 words):
“For change is not progress unless ______ _____ _____ _____ …wherever there is real progress in knowledge, there is some knowledge that is not superseded.”
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)
Fact / Quote / Quiz: April 8th
FACT OF THE DAY:
On this date (4/8) in 1947 the first U.S. edition (a hardback) of The Abolition of Man was published.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Who said I disliked women? I never liked or disliked any generalisation.”
Letter to Margaret Fuller on 4/8/1948
(Published in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume II)
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QUIZ OF THE DAY:
This month one of the three books that became a part of Mere Christianity was published; what was it?
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)
Fact / Quote / Quiz: February 26th
FACT OF THE DAY:
The 3rd and final Riddell Memorial Lecture entitled “The Abolition of Man” by Lewis was given today (2/26) in 1943.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“What we call Man’s power over Nature turns out to be a power exercised by some men over other men with Nature as its instrument.”
The Abolition of Man
(First a lecture from 2/26/1943 from the eventual The Abolition of Man)
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QUIZ OF THE DAY:
Finish the quote and name the source (5 words):
“…it is certainly my opinion that a book worth reading only in childhood is ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.” (submitted by Winifred Sherman)
(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)
Fact / Quote / Quiz: February 25th
FACT OF THE DAY:
The 2nd Riddell Memorial Lecture entitled “The Way” by Lewis was given today (2/25) in 1943. It became part of The Abolition of Man.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“The human mind has no more power of inventing a new value than of imagining a new primary colour.”
The Way
(First a lecture from 2/25/1943 from the eventual The Abolition of Man)
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QUIZ OF THE DAY:
When the final series of broadcast talks began this month in 1944 something different happen to them; what was it?
(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)
Fact / Quote / Quiz: February 24th
FACT OF THE DAY:
This evening (2/24/1943) Lewis gave the 1st talk (“Men Without Chests”) of the Riddell Memorial Lectures that became The Abolition of Man.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts.”
Men Without Chests
(First a lecture from 2/24/1943 from the eventual The Abolition of Man)
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QUIZ OF THE DAY:
What is the name of the capital of Narnia?
(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)
RETROSPECT: February 19th – 29th
Highlights for the final third of February (19th – 29th) include: The beginning of his fourth and final BBC series of talks, a landmark lecture series that would become one of his most insightful works aimed at a mainstream audience, and a new edition of The Screwtape Letters containing a second preface.
The fourth and final BBC radio series kicked off on the 22nd in 1944. The series itself was first called “Beyond Personality” and the first talk was entitled “Making and Begetting.” However, on the 24th the text was reprinted in The Listener and it was called “The Map and the Ocean.” This was the first time Lewis’s broadcasts were made available before being collected in a book.
The two different titles for the fourth series debut provides some hints at what was presented by Lewis. He noted the words “begetting” or “begotten” are not used today, but its