The Hobbit and Philosophy For When You've Lost Your Dwarves, Your Wizard, and Your Way

by Irwin, William; Bassham, Gregory; Bronson, Eric

• ISBN13: 9780470405147
• ISBN10: 0470405147
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-10-02
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

A philosophical exploration of J.R.R. Tolkiens beloved classic-just in time for the December 2012 release of Peter Jacksons new film adaptation, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey J.R.R. Tolkiens The Hobbit is one of the best-loved fantasy books of all time and the enchanting "prequel" to The Lord of the Rings. With the help of some of historys great philosophers, this book ponders a host of deep questions raised in this timeless tale, such as: Are adventures simply "nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things" that "make you late for dinner," or are they exciting and potentially life-changing events? What duties do friends have to one another? Should mercy be extended even to those who deserve to die? Gives you new insights into The Hobbits central characters, including Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, Gollum, and Thorin and their exploits, from the Shire through Mirkwood to the Lonely Mountain Explores key questions about The Hobbits story and themes, including: Was the Arkenstone really Bilbos to give? How should Smaugs treasure have been distributed? Did Thorin leave his "beautiful golden harp" at Bag-End when he headed out into the Wild? (If so, how much could we get for that on eBay?) Draws on the insights of some of the worlds deepest thinkers, from Confucius, Plato, and Aristotle to Immanuel Kant, William Blake, and contemporary American philosopher Thomas Nagel From the happy halls of Elronds Last Homely House to Gollums "slimy island of rock," The Hobbit and Philosophy is a must read for longtime Tolkien fans as well as those discovering Bilbo Baggins and his adventures "there and back again" for the first time.

Author Biography

Gregory Bassham is Chair of the Philosophy Department at King's College and a professor of philosophy. He is co-editor of The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy (2003), The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy (2005), and Basketball and Philosophy (2008). Eric Bronson is a visiting professor in the Humanities Department at York University in Toronto, Canada. He is the editor of Poker and Philosophy (2012), and co-editor of The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy (2003) and Baseball and Philosophy (2011). William Irwin is Professor of Philosophy at King's College. He originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books as coeditor of the bestselling The Simpsons and Philosophy and has overseen recent titles including House and Philosophy, Batman and Philosophy, and Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements: Thag You Very Buch Introduction: Never Laugh at Live Philosophers

Discover Your Inner Took

The Adventurous Hobbit

"The Road Goes Ever On and On": A Hobbit?s Tao

Big Hairy Feet: A Hobbit's Guide to Enlightenment

Bilbo Baggins: The Cosmopolitan Hobbit

The Good, the Bad, and the Slimy

The Glory of Bilbo Baggins

Pride and Humility in The Hobbit

"My Precious": Tolkien on the Perils of Possessiveness

Tolkien's Just War

"Pretty Fair Nonsense": Art and Beauty in The Hobbit

Hobbitus Ludens: Why Hobbits Like to Play, and Why We Should Too

Riddles and Rings

"The Lord of Magic and Machines": Tolkien on Magic and Technology

Inside The Hobbit: Bilbo Baggins and the Paradox of Fiction

Riddles in the Dark: The Hobbit and Hermeneutics

Being There and Back Again

Some Hobbits Have All the Luck

The Consolation of Bilbo: Providence and Free Will in Middle-earth

Out of the Frying Pan: Courage and Decision Making in Wilderland

There and Back Again: A Song of Innocence and Experience Contributors: Our Most Excellent and Audacious

Contributors

Appendix: Abbreviations

Index: Moon-Letters

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