Scientific Determinism
One of the defining marks of the 20th century has been
the triumph, especially in the social sciences, of the theory of determinism.
The theory holds that all or most of a man's life is determined for him by
factors beyond his control, be they the environment, heredity, or a host of
other external forces that play upon him. The concept of free will, when it is
considered at all, is relegated to an insignificant place in the make-up of the
human person. The theory when applied frees man from those responsibilities
which have always been respected by, even dear to, his forebears, those to God,
to his family, to society, to the state, and perhaps most importantly, to
himself. For if one's own will cannot play upon the world at large, then surely
one is not responsible for what happens in it. The result of the determinists'
victory has been nothing less than catastrophic for man, and his planet.
At the beginning of this century, G.K. Chesterton emerged as a public figure in
debate and opposition to this very theory. He remained embroiled in this
particular battle through his life, and it is one of the defining
characteristics of his work. The opening pages of his Autobiography sum up his
attitude with his usual succinct wit: "I regret that I cannot do my
duty as a true modern, by cursing everybody who made me whatever I am. I am not
clear about what that is; but I am pretty sure that most of it is my own
fault".
Gilbert! is an attempt to
continue the battle which Chesterton waged. Our goal is not so much to teach
responsibility to those who no longer know or use it, but rather to teach the
reason for it, which reason, of course, is nothing less than the existence of
the human soul.
[And for further reading in Chesterton's works, see especially The
Blatchford Controversies, CW, I; Chapter 2 and Chapter 4 of "Orthodoxy",
"The Maniac" and "The Ethics of Elfland"; and
"The Real Danger" in Utopia of Usurers]. From Martin Ward's Chesterton page.