Sterling Terrell

recovering economist

We Remove The Organ And Demand The Function?

We Remove The Organ And Demand The Function?

Removing the organ and demanding the function seems crazy, right?

Of course, it is.

It is because a specific organ is there to perform a particular type of function.

Hearts move blood. Lungs regulate oxygen. And brains control.

But what do we do?

We throw things aside with no thought about the unintended consequences.

  • We vilify masculinity and are puzzled by weakness.
  • We destroy the family and can’t figure out what happened to the community.
  • We allow unethical behavior and are surprised at fraud.
  • We praise gluttony and wonder why our health is not better.
  • We reject God and wonder why few can see ethics.

My goodness.

Did Lewis write this yesterday?

And all the time—such is the tragic-comedy of our situation—we continue to clamour for those very qualities we are rendering impossible. You can hardly open a periodical without coming across the statement that what our civilization needs is more ‘drive’, or dynamism, or self-sacrifice, or ‘creativity’. In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.

-C.S. Lewis, The Abolition Of Man (Amazon)

Let The Natural Consequence Teach The Lesson?

Let The Natural Consequence Teach The Lesson?

Here is a good example of allowing the natural consequence of a situation teach your children a lesson.

Rather than lecture them about caring for borrowed property, let the person they are borrowing from teach the lesson.

  • If they break something, they might have to replace it.
  • They may lose the trust of the person lending.
  • Or, everything can turnout fine.

No matter what they get to learn something without you having to play the villain.

I get it.

It’s hard staying quiet will all our parental threats and such.

You want to coach them.

But believe me, you’re more likely creating a wedge.

One natural consequence of returning borrowed property in damaged condition is the owner’s displeasure. Another natural consequence is the owner’s reluctance to lend you anything again. It’s also possible that the owner might change his mind if he gets some concrete evidence that it won’t happen again. But the responsibility to change is clearly the borrower’s. The owner doesn’t have to do anything to you to teach you a lesson. It’s a lot easier to learn from the hard realities of people’s real reactions than from a person who decides to punish you “for your own good.”

-Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk (Amazon)

Sterling Terrell