The Tao
The Way of Life, according to Chinese tradition. In the words of Lewis, it is “the reality beyond all predicates” (18).
The Conditioners
the men who will wield the complete power of Man over Man with Nature as his instrument; having stepped outside the Tao, the Conditioners have essentially lost their humanity.
The Innovator
the theoretical man who attempts to construct his own principles and way of life from outside the Tao
Pillory
to verbally attack in a manner intended to ridicule
sublime
the sublime is the quality of greatness, whether physical, moral, intellectual, metaphysical, aesthetic, spiritual, or artistic.
Veneration
A feeling and expression of deep respect
Predicate
the conclusion of a sentence, the part that involves the work of the proposition
Venal
dishonest and weak-willed
Bathetic
ineffectively anticlimactic
Anthropomorphic
having characteristics of a human
Bimetallism
an economic system that includes the usage of two metals as currencies of different values
Inculcate
to thoroughly instill, permanently teach
Treatise
a formal and systematic written discourse on a particular subject.
Philosophical
relating to the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.
Relativism
the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and moral values are relative to the individual and his or her society and culture.
Abolition
the act of abolishing or the state of being abolished; the destruction or ending of something.
Contemplation
the act of thinking deeply about something, especially in a calm and deliberate way.
Natural law
a body of universal moral principles believed to be inherent in the natural world and applicable to all human beings, regardless of culture or time period.
Chest
in The Abolition of Man, Lewis uses this term to refer to the "organ of man's spiritual nature," or the source of our moral and spiritual values.
Magnanimity
the quality of being generous and forgiving; nobility of mind and spirit.
Relativism
The philosophical assertion that moral principles and realities are relative and change depending on personal or cultural context. Lewis criticizes relativism, arguing that it undermines ethical consistency and objective morality.
