Reverend Brian McGreevy continues his series, Not as Unwise but as Wise: Reflections from C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man and That Hideous Strength on Living Christianly in a Post-Christian World. This is available as a podcast on iTunes.
Episode 11: Not as Unwise but as Wise: Reflections from C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man and That Hideous Strength
The Devilry of Bureaucracy and Doublespeak
Doublespeak definiition from the OED: deliberately euphemistic, ambiguous, or obscure language.
Doublespeak is the complete opposite of plain and simple truth. … For example, if a pharmaceutical company said something like, “There are some minor side effects,” when they should clearly be stating, “This drug may cause a heart attack,” they’re using doublespeak and communicating in a deceptive manner.
“The most controversial business before the College Meeting was the question of selling Bragdon Wood. The purchaser was the N.I.C.E., the National Institute of Co-ordinated Experiments. They wanted a site for the building which would worthily house this remarkable organisation. The N.I.C.E. was the first-fruit, of that constructive fusion between the state and the laboratory on which so many thoughtful people base their hopes of a better world. It was to be free from almost all the tiresome restraints — “red tape” was the word its supporters used — which have hitherto hampered research in this country. It was also largely free from the restraints of economy, for, as it was argued, a nation which can spend so many millions a day on a war can surely afford a few millions a month on productive research in peacetime. The building proposed for it was one which would make a quite noticeable addition to the skyline of New York, the staff was to be enormous, and their salaries princely. Persistent pressure and endless diplomacy on the part of the Senate of Edgestow had lured the new Institute away from Oxford, from Cambridge, from London. It had thought of all these in turn as possible scenes for its labours. At times the Progressive Element in Edgestow had almost despaired. But success was now practically certain. If the N.I.C.E. could get the necessary land, it would come to Edgestow. And once it came, then, as everyone felt, things would at last begin to move, Curry had even expressed a doubt whether, eventually, Oxford and Cambridge could survive as major universities at all.
“Three years ago, if Mark Studdock had come to a College Meeting at which such a question was to be decided, he would have expected to hear the claims of sentiment against progress and beauty against utility openly debated. Today, as he took his seat in the Soler, the long upper room on the south of Lady Alice, he expected no such matter. He knew now that that was not the way things are done.
“It was not called, “the sale of Bragdon Wood. The Bursar called it the “sale of the area coloured pink on the plan which, with the Warden’s permission, I will now pass round the table.” He pointed out quite frankly that this involved the loss of part of the Wood. In fact, the proposed N.I.C.E. site still left to the College a strip about sixteen feet broad along the far half of the south side but there was no deception for the Fellows had the plan to look at with their own eyes. It was a small scale plan and not perhaps perfectly accurate — only meant to give one a general idea.
“In answer to questions he admitted that unfortunately — or perhaps fortunately — the Well itself was in the area which the N.I.C.E. wanted. The rights of the College to access would, of course, be guaranteed; and the Well and its pavement would be preserved by the Institute in a manner to satisfy all the archaeologists in the world. He refrained from offering any advice and merely mentioned the quite astonishing figure which the N.I.C.E. was offering.
“After that, the meeting became lively. The advantages of the sale discovered themselves one by one like ripe fruit dropping into the hand. It solved the problem of the wall; it solved the problem of protecting ancient monuments; it solved the financial problem; it looked like solving the problem of the junior Fellows’ stipenda. It appeared further that the N.I.C.E. regarded this as the only possible site in Edgestow; if by any chance Bracton would not sell, the whole scheme miscarried and the Institute would undoubtedly go to Cambridge. It was even drawn out of the Bursar by much questioning that he knew of a Cambridge college very anxious to sell.
“The few real “Die-hards” present, to whom Bragdon Wood was almost a basic assumption of life, could hardly bring themselves to realise what was happening. When they found their voices, they struck a discordant note amid the general buzz of cheerful comment. They were manoeuvered into the position of appearing as the party who passionately desired to see Bragdon surrounded with barbed wire. When at last old Jewel, blind and shaky and almost weeping, rose to his feet, his voice was hardly audible. Men turned round to gaze at, and some to admire, the clear-cut, half-childish face and the white hair… But only those close to him could hear what he said. At this moment Lord Feverstone sprang to his feet, folded his arms, and looking straight at the old man said in a very loud, clear voice: “If Canon Jewel wishes us not to hear his views, I suggest that his end could be better attained by silence.” Jewel had been already an old man in the days before the first war when old men were treated with kindness, and he had never succeeded in getting used to the modern world. For a moment as he stood with his head thrust forward, people thought he was going to reply. Then quite suddenly he spread out his hands with a gesture of helplessness, shrunk back, and began laboriously to resume his chair. The motion was carried.”
“The N.I.C.E. was the first-fruit, of that constructive fusion between the state and the laboratory on which so many thoughtful people base their hopes of a better world”:
Hopes of a better world based on government and science as savior based on an utterly secular worldview
“free from almost all the tiresome restraints”:
Restraints like due process, individual liberties, ethics, the TAO
“noticeable addition to the skyline of New York”:
Enormous, imposing, calling attention to itself, spoiling the ordered beauty and harmony of the college and town
“the claims of sentiment against progress and beauty against utility openly debated”:
No debate of ideas, no chance to even put on the table claims of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty or even Right v. Wrong, no understanding of Logic
“not the way things are done”:
ends justifying the means, devilry in bureaucratic processes
The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid “dens of crime” that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the office of a thoroughly nasty business concern.—C.S. Lewis, Preface to The Screwtape Letters
“not called, “the sale of Bragdon Wood. The Bursar called it the ‘sale of the area coloured pink’”:
Disingenuous descriptions that obscure the truth and mislead anyone not paying the very closest attention
“quite astonishing figure which the N.I.C.E. was offering”:
Greed and materialism are rampant, and monetary gain is often the chief lens for decision-making
“The few real “Die-hards” present, to whom Bragdon Wood was almost a basic assumption of life, could hardly bring themselves to realise what was happening”:
In eras of rapid change, “Conservatives” (those who are not Progressives) can easily be blindsided because they expect the foundations that have been part of their culture and worldview to endure, and are often not aware of how progressive and slow undermining of those foundations leads to an erosion of the ground they stand on—and they are often not aware that there is a concerted campaign to turn the tide against them
“They were manoeuvered into the position of appearing as the party who passionately desired to see Bragdon surrounded with barbed wire”:
Groups often have their views “spun” and misrepresented by an opposition that plays by different rules and is unafraid of slander or outright falsehoods in the pursuit of their aims, creating a straw man
“If Canon Jewel wishes us not to hear his views, I suggest that his end could be better attained by silence”:
Without open debate and a quest for truth based in the rules of logic, insult and ad hominem attacks become a subsutiutute for discourse in seeking to reach a decision
“the days before the first war when old men were treated with kindness”:
Civility in public discourse is viewed as a quaint relic, and wisdom and experience are discounted in favor of what is “new” or “bold” or “innovative”
Practices of Hope and of Wisdom
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.—Philippians 4:8-9
1.Seek after Truth and practice the Scriptural admonition to “speak the truth in love.”
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. Eph. 4:15
2. Learn the basics of Logic so you can recognize fallacies and poor arguments so you are not led astray.
—The Fallacy Detective
3. Resist being conformed to the world in the way you regard others and speak of them, especially those with whom you profoundly disagree. Contemplate Scripture on this point:
–Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:43-44
—Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29
—Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21
—Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor. Ephesians 4:21
4. Meditate on the words from I Peter while listening to Samuel Sebastian Wesley’s “Blessed Be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” which was first sung Easter Day in 1853.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.
Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.
See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God.
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. Amen.
