The Hobbit and Philosophy: for When You've Lost Your Dwarves, Your Wizard, and Your Way
Author(s): William Irwin
A philosophical exploration of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved classic--just in time for the December 2012 release of Peter Jackson's new film adaptation, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey J.R.R. Tolkien's 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 history's 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 Hobbit 's 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 Hobbit 's story and themes, including: Was the Arkenstone really Bilbo's to give? How should Smaug's 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 world's deepest thinkers, from Confucius, Plato, and Aristotle to Immanuel Kant, William Blake, and contemporary American philosopher Thomas Nagel From the happy halls of Elrond's Last Homely House to Gollum's "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.
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Gregory Bassham (Wilkes-Barre, PA) is Chair of the Philosophy Department at King's College and a professor of philosophy. He edited The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy and co-edited The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy (Open Court) and The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy . 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 (Wilkes-Barre, PA) 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.
Acknowledgements: Thag You Very Buch Introduction: Never Laugh at Live Philosophers Part One: Discover Your Inner Took 1. Gregory Bassham, The Adventurous Hobbit 2. Michael C. Brannigan, "The Road Goes Ever On and On": A Hobbit?s Tao 3. Eric Bronson, Big Hairy Feet: A Hobbit's Guide to Enlightenment 4. Dennis Knepp, Bilbo Baggins: The Cosmopolitan Hobbit Part Two: The Good, the Bad, and the Slimy 5. Charles Taliaferro and Craig Lindahl-Urben, The Glory of Bilbo Baggins 6. Laura Garcia, Pride and Humility in The Hobbit 7. Anna Minore and Gregory Bassham, "My Precious": Tolkien on the Perils of Possessiveness 8. David Kyle Johnson, Tolkien's Just War 9. Philip Tallon, "Pretty Fair Nonsense": Art and Beauty in The Hobbit 10. David L. O'Hara, Hobbitus Ludens: Why Hobbits Like to Play, and Why We Should Too Part Three: Riddles and Rings 11. W. Christopher Stewart, "The Lord of Magic and Machines": Tolkien on Magic and Technology 12. Amy Kind, Inside The Hobbit: Bilbo Baggins and the Paradox of Fiction 13. Tom Grimwood, Riddles in the Dark: The Hobbit and Hermeneutics Part Four: Being There and Back Again 14. Randall M. Jensen, Some Hobbits Have All the Luck 15. Grant Sterling, The Consolation of Bilbo: Providence and Free Will in Middle-earth 16. Jamie Carlin Watson, Out of the Frying Pan: Courage and Decision Making in Wilderland 17. Joe Kraus, There and Back Again: A Song of Innocence and Experience Contributors: Our Most Excellent and Audacious Contributors Appendix: Abbreviations Index: Moon-Letters
General Fields
- :
- : John Wiley & Sons, Limited
- : John Wiley & Sons, Limited
- : 0.368
- : 01 January 2012
- : 228mm X 153mm X 18mm
- : United Kingdom
- : 01 October 2012
- : books
Special Fields
- : William Irwin
- : Paperback
- : JN
- : en
- : 823.912
- : 272
- : illustrations