What do you think?
Rate this book
The Magician's Twin: C. S. Lewis on Science, Scientism, and Society
Beloved for his Narnian tales and books of Christian apologetics, bestselling British writer C. S. Lewis also was a perceptive critic of the growing power of scientism, the misguided effort to apply science to areas outside its proper bounds. In this wide-ranging book of essays, contemporary writers probe Lewis’s prophetic warnings about the dehumanizing impact of scientism on ethics, politics, faith, reason, and science itself. Issues explored include Lewis’s views on bioethics, eugenics, evolution, intelligent design, and what he called “scientocracy.” Contributors include Michael Aeschliman, Victor Reppert, Jay Richards, and C. John Collins.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2012
29 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
About the author
John G. West
23 books11 followersAlso publishes as John G. West Jr..
Dr. John West is a Senior Fellow at the Seattle-based Discovery Institute, where he is Associate Director of Discovery's Center for Science & Culture and Vice President for Public Policy and Legal Affairs. His current research examines the impact of Darwinian science on public policy and culture during the past century. His other areas of expertise include constitutional law, American government and institutions, and religion and politics.
Dr. West was previously an Associate Professor of Political Science at Seattle Pacific University where he chaired the Political Science department, and he has taught political science and history courses at California State University, San Bernardino and Azusa Pacific University. From 1986-1989, Dr. West served as Managing Editor of Public Research, Syndicated, which distributed essays on public affairs to more than 700 daily and weekly newspapers.
Dr. West has written or edited numerous books. He also has contributed articles to a wide range of scholarly and popular outlets, including National Review Online, FoxNews.com, The Encyclopedia of the American Presidency, Wake Forest Law Review, Policy Review, The Washington Times, The Seattle Times, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Detroit News, and The San Diego Union.
Dr. West holds a Ph.D in Government from Claremont Graduate University and a B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington. He is a recipient of several academic fellowships, including a Haynes Foundation Dissertation Grant, an Earhart Foundation Fellowship, a Richard Weaver Fellowship, and a Chevron Journalism/Economics Scholarship. Dr. West is a member of the American Political Science Association, Pi Sigma Alpha (the national political science honor society), and Phi Beta Kappa.
Dr. John West is a Senior Fellow at the Seattle-based Discovery Institute, where he is Associate Director of Discovery's Center for Science & Culture and Vice President for Public Policy and Legal Affairs. His current research examines the impact of Darwinian science on public policy and culture during the past century. His other areas of expertise include constitutional law, American government and institutions, and religion and politics.
Dr. West was previously an Associate Professor of Political Science at Seattle Pacific University where he chaired the Political Science department, and he has taught political science and history courses at California State University, San Bernardino and Azusa Pacific University. From 1986-1989, Dr. West served as Managing Editor of Public Research, Syndicated, which distributed essays on public affairs to more than 700 daily and weekly newspapers.
Dr. West has written or edited numerous books. He also has contributed articles to a wide range of scholarly and popular outlets, including National Review Online, FoxNews.com, The Encyclopedia of the American Presidency, Wake Forest Law Review, Policy Review, The Washington Times, The Seattle Times, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Detroit News, and The San Diego Union.
Dr. West holds a Ph.D in Government from Claremont Graduate University and a B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington. He is a recipient of several academic fellowships, including a Haynes Foundation Dissertation Grant, an Earhart Foundation Fellowship, a Richard Weaver Fellowship, and a Chevron Journalism/Economics Scholarship. Dr. West is a member of the American Political Science Association, Pi Sigma Alpha (the national political science honor society), and Phi Beta Kappa.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 27, 2018
Really fine book -- a collection of essays on various aspects of Lewis's view of scientism. There are some jewels here.
August 27, 2021
A most prescient study. Lewis' concerns over scientism and its influence in society have aged terrifyingly well (it's 2021 afterall). This collection of essays on the subject are indeed unequal in quality and subject matter, yet the various insights make the whole worth your time.
I should warn the casual reader of Lewis that the book is full of references and assumes a working knowledge of the Lewis corpus. Read him first, then come to the table to discuss him. Great read!
I should warn the casual reader of Lewis that the book is full of references and assumes a working knowledge of the Lewis corpus. Read him first, then come to the table to discuss him. Great read!
September 9, 2013
While Lewis’s academic background involved studying the past, he was an astute observer of modern culture. Many have called certain of his works prophetic, and, indeed, when one reads That Hideous Strength and The Abolition of Man, one is tempted to double check the publication date. In both of these works Lewis is able to show his reader why the humanities have died, the differences between science and scientism, and the consequences of a society devoid of a common moral foundation.
The Magician’s Twin is a series of essays in which various scholars have looked at Lewis’s views on science and scientism, origins, reason, and society. The essays reference Lewis’s works as well as private correspondence and book notes that have been made available, but focus predominately on That Hideous Strength, The Abolition of Man, and Miracles.
Overall, this is fantastic book with excellent scholarship. Perhaps most impressive is that these scholars do not attempt to put words in Lewis’ mouth. They genuinely attempt to look at what Lewis wrote and analyze his views.
A couple of chapters to note include John West’s chapters on Lewis’s views on origins (Chapters 1, 6, and 7). Lewis holds a nuanced view that we would all be well-served to analyze and emulate. Unfortunately, the current climate is such that this kind of nuanced view is impermissible. Lewis’s views do not fall squarely within current labels. He allows that God may have used a natural process, like an evolutionary model, but Lewis did not espouse a view concurrent with Charles Darwin’s non-teleological view on biology. Today, evolutionary theory is so intertwined with Darwinism that it is difficult to talk about natural processes apart from the philosophy described in Origin of Species, but at the time of Lewis’s writing, this was possible. One could observe evolutionary processes, and make extrapolations based on those processes without having to assume biological systems arose by random chance. Additionally, Lewis did not assume purely naturalistic causes, but that the supernatural could intervene in nature. He believed in a literal Adam and Eve, an actual fall, as well as the possibility of supernatural events, something that Darwinists do not espouse.
Lewis specifies what it is that is not congruent with Christian belief: Scientism. He also makes a distinction between evolutionary processes (science) and evolutionism (scientism). Today these distinctions are often made by using the terms “evolution” for natural processes and “Darwinism” for the extrapolation of those natural processes to a creative role, a philosophical position that assumes non-teleology in biology. Lewis’s careful thinking on the matter serves as a guide today for untangling the science and scientism knot.
Another chapter of note was Jay Richards’ chapter on reason. Lewis’s “argument from reason” exposes the inherent contradiction in using reason to conclude naturalism is true. Key to this idea is that if we are merely matter (chemistry and nature) and there is nothing external to the physical world, then how can we be certain that our reason is based on anything more than chemical delusions? The Abolition of Man refuted relativism, and Miracles exposed the problems with naturalism. Richards unpacks Lewis’s refutation of naturalism and addresses current philosophers who have addressed this argument.
Finally, Chapter 13: C. S. Lewis, Scientism, and the Moral Imagination by Michael Matheson Miller was particularly poignant to me. Having received an excellent albeit humanistic and Enlightenment-based education, I imbibed relativism and logical positivism, and was only made aware of my presuppositions later in life. However, even after studying science and philosophy, it was difficult for me to pinpoint when and where it was that I learned these views. Miller reminds us of Lewis’ writings on the matter. Our education on worldviews begins in elementary school when we learn that anything that can be measured or observed is a fact, while values are opinions. It is such a subtle thing, but those lessons symbolize the very nature of the post-Enlightenment, modern mindset, a mindset that Lewis says is the consequence of scientism. Aesthetics and even ethics are relegated to the realm of opinion, and, by implication, are irrational. See how this is subtly done:
Determine whether each of the following is a fact or an opinion (from page 313):
1. Mozart was born in Salzburg.
2. Mozart wrote beautiful music.
3. John Paul II was the Pope for over 20 years.
4. John Paul II was a good Pope.
5. Bell-bottoms were popular in the 1970s.
6. Bell-bottoms are cool.
Most of us have done an exercise like this before. The answer considered correct in our scientism-based training is 1, 3, and 5 are facts while 2, 4, and 6 are opinions. By implication facts can be right or wrong, but opinions are merely subjective. But, then, when we get into upper grades, we play the same game with more complex issues. Again, we are supposed to discern fact from opinion, usually in the form of a paper (from page 314):
7. Murder is the intentional killing of an innocent person.
8. Murder is bad.
And hence we have what Lewis calls “men without chests.”
The Magician’s Twin is a series of essays in which various scholars have looked at Lewis’s views on science and scientism, origins, reason, and society. The essays reference Lewis’s works as well as private correspondence and book notes that have been made available, but focus predominately on That Hideous Strength, The Abolition of Man, and Miracles.
Overall, this is fantastic book with excellent scholarship. Perhaps most impressive is that these scholars do not attempt to put words in Lewis’ mouth. They genuinely attempt to look at what Lewis wrote and analyze his views.
A couple of chapters to note include John West’s chapters on Lewis’s views on origins (Chapters 1, 6, and 7). Lewis holds a nuanced view that we would all be well-served to analyze and emulate. Unfortunately, the current climate is such that this kind of nuanced view is impermissible. Lewis’s views do not fall squarely within current labels. He allows that God may have used a natural process, like an evolutionary model, but Lewis did not espouse a view concurrent with Charles Darwin’s non-teleological view on biology. Today, evolutionary theory is so intertwined with Darwinism that it is difficult to talk about natural processes apart from the philosophy described in Origin of Species, but at the time of Lewis’s writing, this was possible. One could observe evolutionary processes, and make extrapolations based on those processes without having to assume biological systems arose by random chance. Additionally, Lewis did not assume purely naturalistic causes, but that the supernatural could intervene in nature. He believed in a literal Adam and Eve, an actual fall, as well as the possibility of supernatural events, something that Darwinists do not espouse.
Lewis specifies what it is that is not congruent with Christian belief: Scientism. He also makes a distinction between evolutionary processes (science) and evolutionism (scientism). Today these distinctions are often made by using the terms “evolution” for natural processes and “Darwinism” for the extrapolation of those natural processes to a creative role, a philosophical position that assumes non-teleology in biology. Lewis’s careful thinking on the matter serves as a guide today for untangling the science and scientism knot.
Another chapter of note was Jay Richards’ chapter on reason. Lewis’s “argument from reason” exposes the inherent contradiction in using reason to conclude naturalism is true. Key to this idea is that if we are merely matter (chemistry and nature) and there is nothing external to the physical world, then how can we be certain that our reason is based on anything more than chemical delusions? The Abolition of Man refuted relativism, and Miracles exposed the problems with naturalism. Richards unpacks Lewis’s refutation of naturalism and addresses current philosophers who have addressed this argument.
Finally, Chapter 13: C. S. Lewis, Scientism, and the Moral Imagination by Michael Matheson Miller was particularly poignant to me. Having received an excellent albeit humanistic and Enlightenment-based education, I imbibed relativism and logical positivism, and was only made aware of my presuppositions later in life. However, even after studying science and philosophy, it was difficult for me to pinpoint when and where it was that I learned these views. Miller reminds us of Lewis’ writings on the matter. Our education on worldviews begins in elementary school when we learn that anything that can be measured or observed is a fact, while values are opinions. It is such a subtle thing, but those lessons symbolize the very nature of the post-Enlightenment, modern mindset, a mindset that Lewis says is the consequence of scientism. Aesthetics and even ethics are relegated to the realm of opinion, and, by implication, are irrational. See how this is subtly done:
Determine whether each of the following is a fact or an opinion (from page 313):
1. Mozart was born in Salzburg.
2. Mozart wrote beautiful music.
3. John Paul II was the Pope for over 20 years.
4. John Paul II was a good Pope.
5. Bell-bottoms were popular in the 1970s.
6. Bell-bottoms are cool.
Most of us have done an exercise like this before. The answer considered correct in our scientism-based training is 1, 3, and 5 are facts while 2, 4, and 6 are opinions. By implication facts can be right or wrong, but opinions are merely subjective. But, then, when we get into upper grades, we play the same game with more complex issues. Again, we are supposed to discern fact from opinion, usually in the form of a paper (from page 314):
7. Murder is the intentional killing of an innocent person.
8. Murder is bad.
And hence we have what Lewis calls “men without chests.”
December 2, 2021
Science is in trouble, it’s not hard to see. Between the crisis of reproducibility to obvious logical fallacies within the community. Lewis was not anti-science but he understood its limits.
“Unless human reasoning is valid, no science can be true.” -CS Lewis, Miracles.
It was a bit strange reading this book in 2021 (published 2012) to see some of it’s ideas played out in real time.
Here are some quotes. I’ll add more as time permits.
“In an age of science and technology, Lewis knew that ordinary citizens must increasingly look to scientific experts for answers, and that would likely lead people to defer more and more to the scientists, letting the scientists do their thinking for them and neglecting their own responsibilities for critical thought in the process.”
“Lewis understood that the ironic result of a society based on science might be greater credulity, not less, as more people simply accepted scientific claims on the basis of authority. This was already happening in his view. Near the end of his life, Lewis observed that “the ease with which a scientific theory assumes the dignity and rigidity of fact varies inversely with the individual’s scientific education,” which is why when interacting “with wholly uneducated audiences” he “sometimes found matter which real scientists would regard as highly speculative more firmly believed than many things within our real knowledge.” In Lewis’s view, the increasing acquiescence of non-scientists to those with scientific and technical expertise gave rise to by far the most dangerous similarity between science and magic, one that threatened the future of Western civilization itself.”
“Regardless of the issues, experts assert that their public policy positions are dictated by ‘science,’ which means that anyone who disagrees with them is ‘anti-science.’ … The goal of this kind of rhetoric is not to win by persuading others, but by silencing them.”
“Lewis added that he ‘dreaded specialists in power because they are specialist speaking outside their special subjects. Let scientist tell us about science. But government involves questions about the good of man, and justice, and what things are worth having at what price; and on these a scientific training gives a man’s opinion no added value.’ This is why Lewis feared ‘government in the name of science. That is how tyrannies come in. In every age the men who want us under their thumb, if they have any sense, will put forward the particular pretension which the hopes and fears of that render most potent… it has been magic, it has been Christanity. Now it will certainly be Science.’”
“Unless human reasoning is valid, no science can be true.” -CS Lewis, Miracles.
It was a bit strange reading this book in 2021 (published 2012) to see some of it’s ideas played out in real time.
Here are some quotes. I’ll add more as time permits.
“In an age of science and technology, Lewis knew that ordinary citizens must increasingly look to scientific experts for answers, and that would likely lead people to defer more and more to the scientists, letting the scientists do their thinking for them and neglecting their own responsibilities for critical thought in the process.”
“Lewis understood that the ironic result of a society based on science might be greater credulity, not less, as more people simply accepted scientific claims on the basis of authority. This was already happening in his view. Near the end of his life, Lewis observed that “the ease with which a scientific theory assumes the dignity and rigidity of fact varies inversely with the individual’s scientific education,” which is why when interacting “with wholly uneducated audiences” he “sometimes found matter which real scientists would regard as highly speculative more firmly believed than many things within our real knowledge.” In Lewis’s view, the increasing acquiescence of non-scientists to those with scientific and technical expertise gave rise to by far the most dangerous similarity between science and magic, one that threatened the future of Western civilization itself.”
“Regardless of the issues, experts assert that their public policy positions are dictated by ‘science,’ which means that anyone who disagrees with them is ‘anti-science.’ … The goal of this kind of rhetoric is not to win by persuading others, but by silencing them.”
“Lewis added that he ‘dreaded specialists in power because they are specialist speaking outside their special subjects. Let scientist tell us about science. But government involves questions about the good of man, and justice, and what things are worth having at what price; and on these a scientific training gives a man’s opinion no added value.’ This is why Lewis feared ‘government in the name of science. That is how tyrannies come in. In every age the men who want us under their thumb, if they have any sense, will put forward the particular pretension which the hopes and fears of that render most potent… it has been magic, it has been Christanity. Now it will certainly be Science.’”
July 12, 2021
“If we are going to be prudent and to act well, we have to see well. We have to engage reality. The problem is that scientism rules out entire segments of reality and prevents us from engaging them with our reason.”
“We can only engage a culture when we are not formed by it.”
“We can only engage a culture when we are not formed by it.”
July 24, 2021
3 stars primarily because some of the readings were quite challenging for me. However, the essays are thoroughly researched and well argued. This collection definitely colored the way I read all of Lewis' fiction in a good way.
April 30, 2019
This book is a collection of essays written on C.S. Lewis's works and arguments against total/absolute trust in science. The majority of Lewis' references are from the science fiction trilogy that he wrote, but also from other works. Lewis argued against Scientism, that society should weigh its trust against science as a process and what discoveries/questions it can and cannot answer. The crux argument is that if science is a man-made method/process towards discovery, how far can our trust in that process be put if, as science claims, our minds are products of unguided evolution. What if out minds are not cognatvie but pure matter and chemical process? Then is science of any real benefit to the mind's understanding of the universe and how accurate and precise are its descriptions of the contents and phsyical relationships within?
Of course we trust the results of science, to a certain extent! Even when scientific findings overturn themselves and bring us to a new understanding! So what does that tell us about our minds? Can we trust our knowledge and understanding? What limits are there to our understanding? If we can trust our minds, then are they merely the combinations of physical matter/chemical processes and the result of evolution?
All these questions get talked about in the essays within this great book! And I would recommend follow on reading, if you are interested:
- Undeniable, by Douglas Axe
- The Quest for the Historical Adam, by William VanDoodewaard
Of course we trust the results of science, to a certain extent! Even when scientific findings overturn themselves and bring us to a new understanding! So what does that tell us about our minds? Can we trust our knowledge and understanding? What limits are there to our understanding? If we can trust our minds, then are they merely the combinations of physical matter/chemical processes and the result of evolution?
All these questions get talked about in the essays within this great book! And I would recommend follow on reading, if you are interested:
- Undeniable, by Douglas Axe
- The Quest for the Historical Adam, by William VanDoodewaard
June 22, 2025
This is a collection of scholarly essays discussing Lewis's views on scientism, which most fully discussed an d fleshed out in "The Abolition of Man" and "That Hideous Strength." Scientism, as opposed to the scientific method, is the belief that only "science" can correctly describe the world, and only science can have any say over what truth and reality are. Ultimately, scientism reduces the world to a purely materialistic entity, and disavows any objective meaning of concepts such as morality, truth, and beauty.
The essays discuss Lewis's arguments against the materialistic world and relativism of the adherents to scientism. The discussions are very detailed, and I will not even attempt to sum them up in this limited space.
My only criticism of the book is the essays became repetitive after awhile. But aside from that the essays were informative and well written. Anyone who is more than just a casual reader of Lewis will find much to appreciate in this work.
The essays discuss Lewis's arguments against the materialistic world and relativism of the adherents to scientism. The discussions are very detailed, and I will not even attempt to sum them up in this limited space.
My only criticism of the book is the essays became repetitive after awhile. But aside from that the essays were informative and well written. Anyone who is more than just a casual reader of Lewis will find much to appreciate in this work.
September 10, 2020
A man ahead of his time
An excellent insight into the thought process behind many of Lewis's works. I found myself thinking over and again "if only he could see now how right he was." a book that every thinking lover of C. S. Lewis and his books should read.
An excellent insight into the thought process behind many of Lewis's works. I found myself thinking over and again "if only he could see now how right he was." a book that every thinking lover of C. S. Lewis and his books should read.
September 21, 2019
Interesting read on C. S.Lewis with emphasis on his argument from reason.
February 7, 2024
An amazing demonstration of the insight and wisdom of Clive Staples Lewis. His thoughts, analysis, and warnings are disturbingly prescient and disturbingly relevant in today's (2023) world. Not a book to be taken lightly. It demands close attention in reading but pays off with great insights and enhanced understanding of current societal challenges.
Lewis warns of the results of a tunnel-visioned, shallow thinking that seduces students, scientists, educators, technologists, politicians, etc. into a blind embrace of mis-applied, perverted science and technology. Unrestrained hubris ignores the limitations inherent in science and scientific knowledge in attempts to redefine and remake humanity built on an unrestrained belief in scientism.
The writers assume some knowledge of Lewis's writings. Most provide enough of a summary of the books referenced to make their commentary understandable. I suggest reading The Abolition of Man and the Space Trilogy, if pressed for a recommendation.
Lewis warns of the results of a tunnel-visioned, shallow thinking that seduces students, scientists, educators, technologists, politicians, etc. into a blind embrace of mis-applied, perverted science and technology. Unrestrained hubris ignores the limitations inherent in science and scientific knowledge in attempts to redefine and remake humanity built on an unrestrained belief in scientism.
The writers assume some knowledge of Lewis's writings. Most provide enough of a summary of the books referenced to make their commentary understandable. I suggest reading The Abolition of Man and the Space Trilogy, if pressed for a recommendation.
January 24, 2013
From the parts I read, one of the best treatments of Lewis' views on magic and science that I have come across. There was nothing 'new' in here, but many topics are discussed with skill, insight, and academic integrity from many strong strong contributors.
July 20, 2014
A mixed bag, not of quality but of topics and approaches. You may not be interested in all the chapters, I wasn't, but some interesting issues on Scientism etc. are discussed. Not for those adverse to intellectual straining.
September 8, 2013
Good book with clear vision on the limitations of empiric science which is very valuable but when we take it as the only source of truth the reality of life which included a.o. morality and beauty is jeopardised.
June 20, 2015
Read Lewis First
I enjoyed the book, but I think I would have gotten more from it if I had read more C. S. Lewis to begin with. If anything, I have been inspired to go and do just that, read more Lewis, especially, based on the last few chapters of this book, The Abolition of Man.
I enjoyed the book, but I think I would have gotten more from it if I had read more C. S. Lewis to begin with. If anything, I have been inspired to go and do just that, read more Lewis, especially, based on the last few chapters of this book, The Abolition of Man.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews