Lewis on Equality
Non-assigned reading/choice blog
Elizabeth Roy
4/23
In Present Concerns, Lewis discusses his view on democracy and more generally on equality. As an American - and a woman, and part of several minority segments of the population - I confess to being a little appalled. Lewis says that equality is not intrinsically good, but that it is necessary because we are fallen. He says: "Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows…I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters" (17.) On some level, I do agree with Lewis - mostly in the political realm. A truly benevolent and good dictator might be able to combine what is best about a single ruler and what is necessary about a democracy. However, I don't think that this viewpoint should carry on to other relationships, such as those between friends or between a husband and wife. Furthermore, I think some of Lewis' logic is flawed. He uses priests and laymen as an example of a relationship of authority that is good, that if we were not fallen would exist with no regards to equality. But if we were not fallen, would we still need priests? Mankind needed religion as a way to get back closer to god after the fall. If we truly were not fallen, would there not be complete equality, except for all of us under God's rule?
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