Socratic Hour: Dr. Michael Ward

12/14/23 • 59 min

Dr. Michael Ward of Oxford joins me to discuss the medieval cosmos, That Hideous Strength, astrology and astronomy, among other things. Dr. Ward is the author of Planet Narnia, After Humanity, and is widely regarded as the foremost Lewis scholar alive today.

Previous Episode

That Hideous Strength: Dinner with the Sub-Warden

In this chapter Feverstone, an important member of the National Institute for Co-ordinated Experiments (N.I.C.E.), explains the purpose of the institute to Mark. In so doing he reveals what the institute wants Mark to do for them - write propaganda pieces. As the chapter ends, Mark and Jane head their separate ways on two very different journeys.

Next Episode

That Hideous Strength: Belbury and St. Anne's-on-the-Hill

We cover a lot in this chapter. Mark meets a host of characters from the N.I.C.E., including Wither, Filostrato, Fairy Hardcastle, and a chemist looking to get out of the institute's clutches (Bill Hingest). Jane continues to be disturbed by her dreams and the details she finds out about their importance. We dip into Lewis's essay "The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment," we connect some ideas from the chapter back to The Abolition of Man, and we begin to explore the "twins" of scientism and the magician.
Link to the word "alchemy" from the etymology dictionary. You'll know why I'm putting this here after listening: https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=alchemy
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