The Philosophy of Tolkien

This is something I am looking forward to. Been a pastor for 11 years and can remember in college how so many talked about C.S.Lewis but rarely of Tolkien.

Amazon showrunners can't even imagine there's such a grandeur in Tolkien's work .

"There is only one true light and all other false lights lead to darkness" Well said

Tolkien's philosophy could be so helpful nowadays... Not just to modern entertainment, but to modern society as well.

Gollum's role in the defeat of Sauron is incredibly important, because it shows that Sauron is ultimately defeated by an act of mercy. Three different hobbits (Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam) take pity on Gollum when they have the chance (and incentive) to kill him, and spare him instead.

“Evil cannot create anything new, they can only corrupt and ruin what good forces have invented or made.” No new thing can be without God and, sometimes, he waits for our cooperation.

Tolkeins message is so obvious that it went right over my head and Ive been a fan of lotr for years.

You beautifully articulated in ways that I will never be as gifted to do. Minds such as yours inspire hope for the future. Thank you.

Best commentary out there on the real difference between the show and Tolkien’s work. It’s not just the lore that is wrong. It’s the entire morality, philosophy, message that is wrong.

Only 5 minutes in and this is already more entertaining than the rings of power. 😀

Elrond spying on Durin was literally the most creepy scene.

As for Eowyn she is able to face the Witch King because of her love for Theoden King. And Merry aids her because of his love for her and the King.

I think Tolkien's philosophy unpacked here is also clearly seen in Star Wars, specifically, when Obi-wan tells Anakin "Your anger and your lust for power have already done that. You have allowed this Dark Lord to twist your mind until now . . . until now you have become the very thing you swore to destroy." Just as IP is describing in this video about Sauron or Saruman, Anakin starts off wanting a better world for his friends, to protect Padme, and to defeat the sith. In episode 2, in his conversation with Padme he hints at the idea that a person in a position of power forcing their will on people is the best way to bring peace. Of course his lust for power comes to its peak in episode 3 where Palpatine offers him power to save Padme, his friends, and to bring peace to the galaxy which he eventually gives in too and becomes Darth Vader.

For me, LOTR was shot through with my favorite Bible verse: “God works all things together for good, to them that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). If Bilbo hadn’t found the Ring, he never could have given it to Frodo. If Frodo hadn’t been late in leaving the Shire, they might never have met Aragorn. If they had made it over Caradhras Pass, Gollum wouldn’t have found them in Moria. If Gandalf hadn’t fallen in his battle with the Balrog, he never would have become the White, with enough power to defeat Saruman. If Boromir hadn’t tried to take the Ring, Frodo would never have gone to Mordor, Merry and Pippin would never have gone to Rohan, the Ents would never have been awakened to destroy Isengard, Theoden would never have been freed by Gandalf, Rohan never would have ridden to the rescue of Helm’s Deep or Minas Tirith, and Aragorn might never have gone the way of the Paths of the Dead to deliver the winning blow at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. If Gondor hadn’t won that first encounter, they never would have been able to send an attacking army to Mordor to distract the Enemy long enough for the hobbits to reach Mt. Doom. And finally, if Gollum hadn’t survived everything he went through and followed Frodo and Sam all the way to the Cracks of Doom: “The Quest would have failed, even at the bitter end.” Frodo of the Shire In short, everything that happened worked together to achieve the desired end: victory for the West, and defeat of the Dark Tower and its allies. What an incredible story.

Man. The ending of “If you follow a false light, it becomes dark creature” have me chills. This is why the Devil is said to “disguise as an Angel of light”. Because he is actually darkness 😅😬 but over all, I find this really good. I actually want to use a Philosophy like this in..Many stories I want to write! Good job man!

I'm also reminded of something Theoden said (in the books): "Oft evil will shall evil mar" - the idea that evil devours itself. You can see it in Saruman's treachery against Sauron, when in diverting Merry & Pippin from being taken to Mordor actually brings them to Treebeard (leading to the destruction of Isengard); Sauron's blindness to the plan destroy the Ring (obsessing on Minas Tirith where some "mighty one" might suddenly emerge & not guarding his own lands), and even the Orcs killing each other in Cirith Ungol (which always felt a little too convenient, but fits this sub-theme). That Gollum, a creature totally consumed by his own lust for the Ring, inadvertently destroys the very thing he loves along with himself, makes sense within the reality of Providence.

This is fantastic. I have learned a bunch. I didn't even noticed that the new adaptation was inviting us to touch darkness. I didn't quite understand why many people were against it but now I do, I have been too much conditioned by the world of Game of Thrones philosophy that I missed to see evil when it was expressed in the Rings of Power. Thanks again.

Morally ambiguous characters is one of my biggest issues with modern entertainment. I often find myself saying "I don't like the good guys anymore."

Wow! You changed my mind about a problem I was struggling with for my whole life. I'm too naïve... I have talents that I've used to channel my frustrations and issues with this problem, but the answer was right in front of me. I just didn't want to look at it. I thought I could create fictional characters who dominate powerful enemies through the desire for will to power. "The ends justify the means", as the saying goes. I've been trying to sort this out for years -- but it turns out, no they don't. I've even asked myself the question "can the world be saved at the cost of my own salvation?" Terrible way to go about it, as the only escape I could think of was becoming an Ubermensch. I thought I could emulate this through my characters, who I made to be deeply flawed. But I was sorely wrong. Thank you a lot for posting this. I have some thinking to do!

Good in general, and especially as an antidote to RoP. I am going to disagree about Éowyn, however. It isn't just rejection by Aragorn that leads her to despair; it is her belief that in choosing to take the Paths of the Dead, he is committing suicide. Why shouldn't she do the same, dying gloriously in battle? (This is in accordance with her culture, unlike merely falling on her sword.) Along the way, she picks up a similarly forlorn hobbit--and unwittingly gives herself a secret weapon to destroy the Witch-King. This act of sympathy and love begins her ascent from an otherwise deadly trap. On the battlefield, she is doing what she can to defend her uncle and king when she defies the Witch-King: again, an act of love leads to victory over evil. Merry in turn defends her out of love and respect for the damsel in distress who is also a great lady and valiant shieldmaiden. His patently suicidal attack enables her to destroy the Witch-King. For the rest, your analysis works.