The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment by C.S. Lewis Doodle (HT Part 1 of 2)

Mercy, detached from justice, grows unmerciful. An illustration explaining a theory of Crime and Punishment that C.S Lewis described as 'a man-eating weed'. Notes below in video description:

(16:15) "The new Nero will approach us with the silky manner of a doctor." Nero (37-68 A.D.) was the Emperor of the pagan Roman Empire and the greatest persecutor of the early Church. He fed Christians to lions in the Colosseum. He also dipped them in oil and set them on fire in his palace garden at night as a source of light.

(16:20) “All will be as compulsory as the tunica molesta or Smithfield or Tyburn. A 'tunica molesta' was a shirt/tunic impregnated with flammable substances such as coal tar, used to execute people by burning in pagan Rome. The Smithfield Gallows and the Tyburn Hanging Tree (Marble Arch) were for centuries the main sites for the public execution of heretics and dissidents in London.

(19:35) Psalm 141:5:
“Let the righteous one smite me;
It shall be a kindness:
And let him reprove me;
It shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head…”

The implication Lewis draws from this verse is that just as there is sternness that saves, there is also a niceness that destroys. A friend who rebukes your wrongs, will not do you serious damage – his rebukes or ‘strikes’ will actually heal you in the end - if you listen. See Revelation 3.9. An enemy, however, will drown you with niceness, flattery & oily selection initially (Prov. 7.15,21,27), but will give you, in the end, total destruction (i.e. an enemy's pretend kindnesses and soft treatments [healing balms] will break your head).

(19:40) A quote from Faithful, a character in Pilgrims Progress (section IV) by John Bunyan:

"Christian: Did you meet with no other assault as you came?

Faithful: When I came to the foot of the Hill called Difficulty, I met with a very aged Man, who asked me, What I was, and whither bound? I told him, That I was a Pilgrim, going to the Celestial City. Then said the old man, Thou lookest like an honest fellow; wilt thou be content to dwell with me for the wages that I shall give thee? Then I asked him his name, and where he dwelt? He said his name was Adam the First, and I dwell in the Town of Deceit. I asked him then, What was his work? and what the wages that he would give? He told me, That his work was many delights; and his wages, that I should be his Heir at last. I further asked him, What House he kept, and what other Servants he had? So he told me, That his House was maintained with all the dainties in the world; and that his Servants were those of his own begetting. Then I asked how many Children he had? He said that he had but three Daughters: The Lust of the Flesh, The Lust of the Eyes, and The Pride of Life, and that I should marry them all if I would. Then I asked him how long time he would have me live with him? And he told me, As long as he lived himself.

Christian: Well, and what conclusion came the old man and you to at last?

Faithful: Why, at first, I felt myself somewhat inclinable to go with the man, for I thought he spake very fair; but looking in his forehead, as I talked with him, I saw there written, Put off the old man with his deeds.

Christian. And how then?

Faithful: Then it came burning hot into my mind, whatever he said, and however he flattered, when he got me home to his House, he would sell me for a slave. So I bid him forbear to talk, for I would not come near the door of his House. Then he reviled me, and told me that he would send such a one after me, that should make my way bitter to my Soul. So I turned to go away from him; but just as I turned myself to go thence, I felt him take hold of my flesh and give me such a deadly twitch back, that I thought he had pulled part of me after himself. This made me cry, O wretched Man! So I went on my way up the Hill [of Difficulty]."

You can find this essay in a book called 'Compelling Reasons'.

Full subtitles are available by pushing the cog button and selecting "English (UK)". This is the full original version, with all missing sentences restored.

[AnonNorwegianPartiot]

I remember when this video first appeared, it made me a firm retributist. C. S. Lewis puts the idea so eloquently and gave so many great examples, that I just thought it made obvious sense!
It also made me look critically at my own country’s system and I learned that a lot of what is usually said in favour of the humanitarian prison system, doesn’t give the benefits they claim to. Truly, Lewis had a brilliant mind for his time!

[shinigamimiroku]

That last line is especially chilling. That Lewis had to have something published in a (former) colony because the motherland would not even begin to hear of it (despite the fact that it welcomed his chats during the War) is telling of just how bad England became societally even back then.

And we know just how bad it has gotten today, since the BBC is well-known for its being the mouthpiece of those same people Lewis exposed back in that day.

[galaxyofreesesking]

This man just summed up the problem of modern Liberalism in the most beautiful way I've ever heard. Certainly, secularism has ailed us for decades, and we have all been taught to accept it as though it were common sense. This is the one thing I hate most about living in America.

[ianmartinesq]

This is a wonderful essay of Lewis’s. He touches on this topic again in Abolition of Man and That Hideous Strength.

[terryhollifield]

Such a rich treatment of this subject in one little article by Leiws! I wonder what he would say in our time when not only has the use of the Humanitarian Theory only grown, its proponents have now co-opted a version of the Old Way in which rights and duties are "subjectively objective."

[AdrianCruz_]

Always enjoy these doodles over narrations of C.S. Lewis’ work. Every work feels like I need to listen to it multiple times to fully absorb it. Thanks as always
Edit: 12:48 I’ve heard the quote on tyranny before, had no idea where it was from. Learn something new everyday

[jobethk]

Wow. I have never heard this essay by C.S. Lewis. Thank you for sharing.

[johnnotrealname]

We back? *WE ARE BACK!* Your visual aids are priceless.

[danielcarroll]

Great visualization. Really made it easier to follow along

[kejewa]

Excellent, as always. I love the closing music too 🙂

[bruce]

You are doing such important work by making these videos.

Thank you.

[DHPshow]

Amazingly done!
This one was a bit complicated. What book is this from?

[davidtagauri]

Thank you so much foe this! high quality and perfect material, please please keep it up. I will subscribe from work account too :)

[liuton]

Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

[robertjohn]

Was this a reupload? great job as always