August 16, 2002

Tolkein's Philosophy
Jon Loux

Some very good points have been made concerning Tolkein and his philosophy. He borrows from Catholicism and from Norse mythology. He also addresses a parable of Plato’s in ‘The Republic.’ In Book 2 there is a story of a shepherd named Gyges who discovers a ring that can make him invisible. Having this ring, what will stop him from doing unethical things like theft or sleeping with any woman he wants? In other words, are we ethical merely because we are accountable to society? Are we good because of the fear of getting caught? The price of living in a society is abiding by that society’s rules. The benefit is in sharing all that that society has to offer: food, protection, shelter, etc. Gollum eventually gets caught and is driven out to live in a cave. But what if you could have it both ways? Live in a society but never get caught breaking the rules? Tolkein’s response is that absolute unaccountability, like absolute power, corrupts absolutely.

Jon Loux.