Which C.S. Lewis book argues that objective moral values are necessary for a humane society?

The Abolition of Man argues that objective moral values are necessary for a humane society.

C.S. Lewis published the book in 1943 after delivering the Riddell Memorial Lectures at the University of Durham. It is a short work of moral philosophy and educational criticism, not a novel. Lewis examines a school textbook that appears to treat value judgments as merely subjective emotional responses.

Lewis argues that rejecting objective value undermines education, reason, and moral action. He calls the shared moral tradition that recognizes fundamental values the “Tao,” borrowing the term from Chinese philosophy while applying it comparatively across cultures. In his argument, people can disagree about details while still recognizing broad principles such as justice, honesty, and respect for human life.

The title refers to Lewis’s warning that attempts to master nature can ultimately become attempts by some human beings to control other human beings. The book is often discussed alongside his later work on natural law and moral formation.