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The power of these technologies are increasing rapidly, and while they may bless the man on the street, they also bolster the man at the bureau.
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Lewis notes that when a culture has jettisoned objective value (what he also calls the Tao)—real, knowable truth and goodness—then gradually the way it wields power shifts from serving people to conditioning them to act the way the power-holders think best. And what a power-holder thinks best is not determined by an objective standard of what is right and good, precisely because such standards have been rejected.
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Could it be that immense power in the hands of few, in a culture without objective value will lead to man-moulding policies that seek to shape citizens into conformity with the prevailing ideals of those exercising this power?
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In Orwell’s 1984, the protagonist Winston Smith (after a great deal of conditioning) learns to love Big Brother, with tears in his eyes. But Lewis suggests that Big Brother never loves the little brother, the man on the street. Neither does Orwell.
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do we regard even Edward Snowden as good? If so, by what standard?
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I think that roughly half of all American have rejected objective value, and we are the midst of living out the consequences of this
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Could it be that half of the people working in the FBI, CIA and NSA are themselves without a polished moral compass?
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We may call for investigations and committee hearings and protest loudly, but until we return to the Tao, we will have no basis to criticize or demand reform. Instead we will pit the impulses of the man on the street against the impulses of the man with the power, with no doubt as to who will win.
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Summary:
The article “Edward Snowden and The Abolition of Man: America’s Rejection of Morality” by Christopher Perrin, PhD, discusses the parallels between C. S. Lewis’s book “The Abolition of Man” and Edward Snowden’s actions as a whistleblower of the Prism surveillance program by the NSA. It delves into the implications of new technologies that grant power to a select few individuals, the erosion of traditional morality, and the potential consequences of a society without objective values.
Outline:
1. Introduction
2. Comparison between C. S. Lewis’s “The Abolition of Man” and Edward Snowden’s actions
3. Impact of new technologies on power dynamics and morality
4. Discussion on governmental agencies like the FBI, CIA, and NSA
5. Consequences of rejecting objective values
6. Conclusion
Study Questions:
1. How does Christopher Perrin draw a connection between C. S. Lewis’s “The Abolition of Man” and Edward Snowden’s whistleblowing?
2. What are the concerns raised regarding the power wielded by a few individuals in society due to advancements in technology?
3. How does the author discuss the role of governmental agencies like the FBI, CIA, and NSA in relation to the erosion of traditional morality?
4. What does the term “Conditioners” and “man-moulders” refer to in the context of the article?
5. Why does the author emphasize the importance of objective values in society, especially when critiquing governmental actions?
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is the main focus of the article “Edward Snowden and The Abolition of Man”?
A. The history of surveillance programs
B. The impact of new technologies on morality and power dynamics
C. Edward Snowden’s personal life
D. C. S. Lewis’s fictional works
How does the author describe the power dynamics resulting from advancements in technology?
A. Beneficial only to a select few
B. Beneficial to society as a whole
C. Neutral in its impact
D. Detrimental to individual freedoms
In the context of the article, who are the “Conditioners” and “man-moulders”?
A. Government officials
B. Technological innovators
C. Moral philosophers
D. Ordinary citizens
What does the author suggest is the consequence of rejecting objective values in society?
A. Increased individual freedoms
B. Erosion of traditional morality
C. Enhanced societal cohesion
D. Greater governmental transparency
Why does the author argue for a return to the Tao in the article?
A. To promote individualism
B. To criticize governmental agencies
C. To establish a basis for moral critique
D. To advocate for technological advancements