An Apologetic for the Learned Life

An appetite for [the pursuit of knowledge and beauty] exists in the human mind, and God makes no appetite in vain. We can therefore pursue knowledge as such, and eauty as such, in the sure confidence that by doing so we are either advancing to the vision of God ourselves or indirectly helping others do so....

If all the world were Christian, it might not matter if all the world were uneducated. But, as it is, a cultural life will exist outside the Church whether it exists inside or not. To be ignorant and simple now—not to be able to meet the enemies on their own ground—would be to throw down our weapons, and to betray our uneducated brethren who have, under God, no defense but us against the intellectual attacks of the heathen. Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason,because bad philosophy needs to be answered....

The learned life then is, for some, a duty.

C.S. Lewis. THE WEIGHT OF GLORY AND OTHER ADDRESSES. "Learning in War-Time."