Inherent Evil

[Lord of Angmar]

But free will cannot be exercised in a manner for which there is no potential either within the subject or within the environment within which the subject exists. So either Melkor was created with the potential for evil or he acquired that potential from his environment (Ea). Iluvatar created Melkor and he created Ea. And in order for Iluvatar to create something that has the potential for evil, he must have understood the concept. And since there was nothing and no-one else from whom he could have learned this concept, he must have understood it because it was within him.

This is a very interesting and insightful point, Saucepan Man. I believe too believe that evil was "within" Eru, but I do not understand your definition of "within."

Some may think you are suggesting that Illuvatar has the capability of committing acts that are evil, although if he acted in an evil way it could no longer be considered evil because he is the Creator of Ea and his actions pertaining to Ea are therefore the "right" ones. If you mean to say that the idea of evil and of treachery is a concept familiar to Illuvatar, then I strongly agree. How could this concept not be familiar to Him who is the Judge of what is evil or not?

I think what you are saying is that Illuvatar knows and understands his own (and therefore everyone else's) concept of evil. I agree, but I do not think he has an "evil" side or that the possibility of malevolence towards the beings of Ea is within him.

Remember, although, as he says, everything has his roots in Eru, that does not mean that all of his traits must be conveyed in his offspring. Cannot the child of a philanthropist grow up to be a murderer or a rapist? The evil in Melkor does not necessarily have to come DIRECTLY from any characteristic in Illuvatar.