"Supposing there was no intelligence behind the universe, no creative mind. In that case, nobody designed my brain for the purpose of thinking. It is merely that when the atoms inside my skull happen, for physical or chemical reasons, to arrange themselves in a certain way, this gives me, as a by-product, the sensation I call thought. But, if so, how can I trust my own thinking to be true? It's like upsetting a milk jug and hoping that the way it splashes itself will give you a map of London. But if I can't trust my own thinking, of course I can't trust the arguments leading to Atheism, and therefore have no reason to be an Atheist, or anything else. Unless I believe in God, I cannot believe in thought: so I can never use thought to disbelieve in God."
—C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis on Reasoning to Atheism - Apologetics 315
"Supposing there was no intelligence behind the universe, no creative mind."
ReplyDeleteDone.
"In that case, nobody designed my brain for the purpose of thinking."
OK
"It is merely that when the atoms inside my skull happen, for physical or chemical reasons, to arrange themselves in a certain way, this gives me, as a by-product, the sensation I call thought."
Merely? What do you mean "merely?" I call that AMAZING!
"But, if so, how can I trust my own thinking to be true?"
Exactly. Why should you? Why should anyone? Ever?
Why should you trust your thinking instead of doubting it at every turn and seeking new ways to think? Instead of exploring the world around you, like a child discovering it anew? Such youth is "wasted on the young," so way waste the wisdom you've gained on possible conceit of your own correctness?
"It's like upsetting a milk jug and hoping that the way it splashes itself will give you a map of London."
(OK, this illustration does not make any sense.)
"But if I can't trust my own thinking, of course I can't trust the arguments leading to Atheism..."
Nor should you. A skeptic of any integrity would never ask you to suspend skepticism.
"and therefore [I] have no reason to be an Atheist, or anything else."
Yes you can. It's called evidence.
"Unless I believe in God, I cannot believe in thought...
Lewis just explained a few sentences ago how thought can exist apart from God.
"so I can never use thought to disbelieve in God."
What was that entire paragraph for BUT reasoning what conclusions to rule out? Thought serves no higher purpose.
Ultimately I feel that Lewis is trying to doubt his way out of doubt.