C.S. Lewis: Good philosophy must exists, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered.

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 defence but us against the intellectual attacks of the heathen. Good philosophy must exists, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered. The cool intellect must work not only against cool intellect on the other side, but against the muddy heathen mystics which deny intellect altogether.

— C.S. Lewis

Cited from C.S. Lewis, “Learning in War-Time,” in The Weight of Glory: And Other Addresses (New York: HarperOne, 1949), 58

Clive Staples Lewis (November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963) was an exceptional scholar, novelist, and Christian apologist from the Anglican tradition. Chronicles of Narnia serves as a fine example of Lewis as a prolific storyteller who captivated the imaginations of multitudes.

A learned scholar with expertise in medieval and Renaissance literature, Lewis also authored numerous fiction and non-fiction works that touched on matters of philosophy and Christian apologetics.

In the article “C.S. Lewis: Defender of the Faith,” Donald T. Williams points out “the nature both of the gospel and of human beings makes apologetics a necessary part of theology for every generation,” that “a skeptical age will have its effects even on people raised in Christian homes,” and “as a result, even committed Christians have moments when Christian truth claims look implausible.” Apologetics is there to strengthen believers in their faith and equip them to carry out their assignment to share it with others. We need good philosophy, if for no other reason than to address bad philosophy, and there is plenty of the bad philosophy all over the place