The Mind of the Maker, Chapter 1: The “Laws” of Nature and Opinion
“The village that voted the earth was flat doubtless modified its own behavior and its system of physics accordingly, but it’s vote did not in any way modify the shape of the earth. That reminds what is is, whether human beings agree of disagree about it…”
—Dorothy Sayers
Sayers makes a distinction between God’s laws—things that cannot be changed, and the other type of “law”—the kind that we make that can be changed by a vote, or a whim.
What are some examples of God’s laws?
What human (arbitrary) laws?
Are there cases where it’s hard to tell the difference?
Are God’s laws ever arbitrary?
What happens when a human law is made agains a God-given law?
“If, however, Christian opinion turns out to be right about the facts of human nature, then the dissenting societies are exposing themselves to that judgement of catastrophe which awaits those who defy the natural law.”
In what areas does our society defy natural law?
What kinds of judgements do we see?
On the moral law: “Nor can God yet abolish them, except by breaking up the structure of the universe, so that in this sense they are not arbitrary laws.”
A few more questions:
What is Sayers’ point about the “Rule of Three Unities”?
Has human nature changed since Aristotle?
This is from a collection of posts based on Dorothy Sayer’s work, The Mind of the Maker. These aren’t chapter summaries, but highlight notes, favorite quotes, and questions for group discussion. Don’t have anyone to discuss with? Get the book. Let’s read it. I’ll discuss it with you.