Are Hobbits capable of evil? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Ghâshgûl · 01-08-2002, 07:08 AM

I think we should distinguish between the "evil" in the real world and the "evil" in Middle Earth. It is quite different.

In the real world, beeing good or evil it is a question of ethics. Beeing good means acting ethically, i.e. following the categorical imperative. (They are tons of philosophical books written about this question...) In the real world there are not "the good ones" and "the evil ones" (although there are many stupid people who think this is the case).

But Middle Earth is not reality. It is kind of a fairy-tale world, a good-vs-evil-universe. In this world, good and evil is not mainly a question of ethics, but a question of choosing a side. Basically, good means pro-Valar, and evil means pro-Melkor. (Or better contra-Valar, see Feanor or Saruman.) Of course, to justify the terms "good" and "evil", the "good" people are always kind and altruistic, whereas the "evil" people are mean, egoistic and cruel. But this is only a consequence of the side they have choosen. When we ask "why are Nazgûl considered as evil", the answer is not "because they are acting unethically" but "because they are servants of Sauron". (From an ethical point of view, they are neither good nor evil because they have no free will!)

Ghâshgûl

[ January 08, 2002: Message edited by: Ghâshgûl ]

01-08-2002, 07:08 AM	#23
Ghâshgûl Pile O'Bones Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Kehl, Germany Posts: 25	I think we should distinguish between the "evil" in the real world and the "evil" in Middle Earth. It is quite different. In the real world, beeing good or evil it is a question of ethics. Beeing good means acting ethically, i.e. following the categorical imperative. (They are tons of philosophical books written about this question...) In the real world there are not "the good ones" and "the evil ones" (although there are many stupid people who think this is the case). But Middle Earth is not reality. It is kind of a fairy-tale world, a good-vs-evil-universe. In this world, good and evil is not mainly a question of ethics, but a question of choosing a side. Basically, good means pro-Valar, and evil means pro-Melkor. (Or better contra-Valar, see Feanor or Saruman.) Of course, to justify the terms "good" and "evil", the "good" people are always kind and altruistic, whereas the "evil" people are mean, egoistic and cruel. But this is only a consequence of the side they have choosen. When we ask "why are Nazgûl considered as evil", the answer is not "because they are acting unethically" but "because they are servants of Sauron". (From an ethical point of view, they are neither good nor evil because they have no free will!) Ghâshgûl [ January 08, 2002: Message edited by: Ghâshgûl ] __________________ Hobbits and Orks, Elves and Ringwraiths, Gandalf and Saruman, Aragorn and Sauron, Lorién and Mordor, Peace and War, Light and Darkness, White and Black, Good and Evil - did you really think it was so simple?