Mere Liberty and the Evils of Statism (2)

Na continuação de Mere Liberty and the Evils of Statism:C. S. Lewis on Mere Liberty and the Evils of Statism, Part 2 de David Theroux:

Of central importance in Lewis's discussion of natural law is his critique of the moral relativism of utilitarianism ("the end justifies the means") as a theory of ethics and guide to behavior. Lewis claimed that the precepts of moral ethics cannot just be innovated or improvised as we go along: There has never been, and never will be, a radically new judgement of value in the history of the world.

The demand for equality has two sources; one of them is among the noblest, the other is the basest of human emotions. The noble source is the desire for fair play. But the other source is the hatred of superiority .... Virtue is not democratic; she is achieved by those who pursue her more hotly than most men .... Ethical, intellectual, or aesthetic democracy is death.

If man has free will and is considered accountable for his actions, there are limits on the state's power. But if individuals act out of necessity, they are not moral agents .... the state simply eliminates the individual's choice or, more exactly, makes the choice for him or her.

.... if one were inventing a language for "sinless beings who loved their neighbours as themselves" it would be appropriate to have no words for "my", "I" .... A society .... where none could say "I love you", would, indeed, be free from selfishness, but not through love.