William Irwin - The Hobbit and philosophy: for when youve lost your dwarves, your wizard, and your way

CONTENTS

The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series

Series Editor: William Irwin

Copyright 2012 by John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

The Hobbit and philosophy : for when youve lost your dwarves, your wizard, and your way / edited by Gregory Bassham and Eric Bronson.

pages cm.(The Blackwell philosophy and pop culture series)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-470-40514-7 (pbk.); ISBN 978-1-118-22019-1 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-23389-4 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-25855-2 (ebk)

1. Tolkien, J. R. R. (John Ronald Reuel), 1892-1973. Hobbit. 2. Tolkien, J. R. R. (John Ronald Reuel), 1892-1973Philosophy. 3. Fantasy fiction, EnglishHistory and criticism. 4. Middle Earth (Imaginary place) 5. Philosophy in literature. I. Bassham, Gregory, 1959- editor of compilation. II. Bronson, Eric, 1971- editor of compilation.

PR6039.O32H6365 2012

823.912dc23

2012007299

For our halflings, Dylan, Asher, and Max

A vanimar, nai tielyar nauvar laiqu ar lauri

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

In putting together this book, we have been blessed by good luck far exceeding the usual allowance. Our warm appreciation to our long-suffering contributors for their patience in bearing with two grim-voiced and grim-faced editors; to Connie Santisteban, Hope Breeman, and the other good folks at Wiley who shepherded the book to publication; and to copyeditor Judith Antonelli for covering our tracks through the deep, dark forest. As with most of our previous collaborations, this fellowship began with a beer- and pipeweed-fueled council with series editor, Bill Irwin. We are especially grateful to Bill for encouraging our adventure in coediting not one, but two, popular culture books on Tolkien and philosophy. Two large flagons of thanks go out to Madeline and Lyndsey Karp and Gregs students in his Faith, Fantasy, and Philosophy course at Kings College.

But our greatest debt is to our fairy wives, Aryn and Mia, and to our own hobbitsDylan, Asher, and Max, to whom this book is dedicated. There are few earthly joys that can match reading Tolkiens tales of Middle-earth to ones children and seeing that spark kindle from mind to mind, like the beacons of Gondor.

INTRODUCTION

Gregory Bassham and Eric Bronson

In a hole in the ground there lived a man who passed a quiet, uneventful life in a community that greatly prized convention and respectability. One day, however, he left his hole and journeyed off into the Blue. His adventure, though frightening and at times painful, changed him forever. His eyes were opened, and he matured in mind and character. When he returned to his hole, his neighbors regarded him as cracked because they couldnt accept that there is more to life than order and predictable routine. Although he lost his reputation, he never regretted going on the adventure that enabled him to discover his true self and to experience an exciting new world.