Psychology With a Chest: The Positive Psychology of C. S. Lewis | By Emory Cooper

Of all the views presented in the psychology readings so far, Dr. Seligman's presidential address provides the view that aligns most closely with Lewis' Abolition of Man. Seligman introduces positive psychology as "a reoriented science that emphasizes the understanding and building of the most positive qualities of an individual: optimism, courage...and social responsibility" (Seligman, page 1). He does not merely have 'positive feelings' for those qualities in a subjective way; he seems to believe that those qualities objectively merit that description, that they are positive qualities whether one feels that way or not. For example, the ethic aggressors do not seem to act as though 'social responsibility' is a positive quality, yet it remains positive. In the terms of Lewis, those qualities are inextricably tied to the Tao. "Those who know the Tao can hold that to call children delightful or old men venerable is...to recognize a quality which demands a certain response from us whether we make it or not" (Lewis, page 6).

Dr. Seligman's vision statement, like his introduction, lines up with Lewis as well. "So my second presidential initiative is intended to...encourage and foster the growth of the new science and profession of positive psychology...we can learn to identify and understand the traits and underpinnings of psychological health and, most importantly, learn how to foster such traits in young people." Seligman basically says that he wants the APA to learn how to train people from an early age to know what the positive qualities of an individual are and hopefully how to apply this knowledge appropriately to their lives. Similarly, Lewis says: "[f]or those within [the Tao], the task is to train in the pupil those responses which are in themselves appropriate...and in making which the very nature of man consists" (Lewis, page 7).

I commented on Bug's and Emma Landry's posts.

Comments

  1. Bug OlsenApril 5, 2022 at 1:28 AM

    I liked how you mentioned Seligman's belief in absolute truth and the sense that there are inherently positive qualities about man that everyone has or can have on some level. It does seem to be very easily applicable from a Christian stance, as his belief in absolute truth automatically puts him above other psychologists we have read. I did not connect his essay to Lewis until you mentioned it, and I found this very interesting.

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  2. Lily CaswellApril 5, 2022 at 9:30 AM

    I really like how you compare Seligman’s address with Abolition of Man. I don’t know if Seligman was a Christian or not but I feel like he had some ideas that seem very Christian.

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