Quote:
Originally Posted by Saurondil
## Metaphysical problem: if the "evil elements" don't exist, they can't be annihilated. Evil is not a thing in itself - it's a lack of a good that is meant to be present. Evil is not a thing in Sauron - it's an absence of a good. Strength, deliberation,wisdom, intelligence, and other qualities required for doing evil, are all good things - Sauron had all of these, as when he deceived Ar-Pharazon.
Tolkien could hardly have been unaware of Boethius (d.524), or of the Old English version of Boethius' "Consolation of Philosophy" - & Boethius is the main author to whom later centuries owed that notion of evil. That evil is unreal fits nicely with the rest of the metaphysical notions in the legendarium.
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I totally agree with you on the relevance of the Christian interpretation of evil as a lack of (or shortage in) good. However, even this negative nature of evil makes it non-existent only in comparison to absolute, pure good which is nothing but Eru himself. All other beings have their limitations and thus are imperfect which mean even the most excellent of them suffer some shortage in good in their nature and thus can potentially be corrupted, as the example of Melkor shows.
This is why evil, measured against ordinary beings is something real and only a great and wise soul (such as Faramir) can resist its persistent temptations. This is why Boethius had to seek consolation in philosophy which is capable of disclosing the true correlation between evil and good, which is not that apparent for one who belongs to this world. And this is why evil, despite it is nothing, is able to take so many shapes and to be something significant and active.