Reasoning beyond reason

By J. T. Sellars

Book Description

In the landscape of faith and reason, few figures have navigated the tension between analytical thinking and imaginative wonder as masterfully as C.S. Lewis. This scholarly exploration reveals how Lewis transcended what many see as an irreconcilable divide between rational argument and creative vision.

J.T. Sellars challenges the common perception of Lewis as merely a modern rationalist philosopher, instead positioning him within a rich pre-modern tradition that views imagination and reason as intimately connected expressions of divine truth. Rather than seeing these faculties as opposing forces, this work demonstrates how Lewis discovered they spring from a single, transcendent source.

The book examines Lewis's journey from atheistic rationalism, where he experienced his logical and imaginative sides as conflicting, to his Christian understanding that united these aspects through story and myth. Sellars argues that Lewis's approach to imagination is fundamentally theological, relying on something beyond the material world for its meaning and power.

Through careful analysis of Lewis's classical sources and influences, readers discover how imagination serves as a wellspring for what we typically consider rational thought. This "transpositional" view suggests that our creative faculties are not separate from our reasoning abilities but are foundational to them.

For those seeking to understand how faith and reason can work together rather than in opposition, this study offers valuable insights into bridging the gap between analytical thinking and spiritual imagination.