The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldview Behind The Lord of the Rings

There are many who have fallen into the well of wonder in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth and not considered why the story is so compelling. Many of those who have fallen in love with Tolkien’s world have never asked why the story is so compelling, why the world seems so unfathomably deep, and why the caricatures of Tolkien’s world as moralistically simple or black and white seem so incredibly wrong. Peter Kreeft explores Tolkien’s worldview in his book, The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldview Behind The Lord of the Rings. What emerges is a portrait of a rigorously Augustinian Roman Catholicism which undergirds the stories of elves, orcs, and dwarves. For the most part, explicit worship is absent from The Lord of the Rings, but there is certainly a reverence toward the supernatural. In fact, Kreeft argues, the primary religious sentiments of Middle Earth are a form of pre-Christian paganism, which, like the polytheism practiced by Abram prior to being called by YHWH, provides a pathway toward Christian theism. Much of the basis for Kreeft’s argument is found in The Silmarillion and some of Tolkien’s letters. What is clear, however, is the openness to the sublime and the supernatural in the world. Tolkien’s worldview stands in stark contrast to the materialism of the modern world. There are thirteen chapters of varying length in this middling sized book. Kreeft subdivides his topics into questions that relate to topics like Metaphysics, Philosophical Theology, Angelology, Cosmology, Epistemology, Aesthetics, and Ethics. While the book does not cover every possible topic, it does show the range of thought that went into Tolkien’s sub-creation. Kreeft is always an interesting read. He is most interesting when he is writing about C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Though this book has Tolkien in the title, there is a hefty dose of Lewis in its pages. I’m sure he quotes Tolkien more, but it is surprising how much of Lewis worked his way into the book. Of course, that is because Lewis and Tolkien were friends for much of their adult lives (despite a cooling, which seemed to stem from Tolkien’s dislike of the Narnia series), and shared much of their understanding of Christianity. As well, the inclusion of Lewis makes this book stronger because Tolkien wrote much less non-fiction prose. Lewis wrote many essays that cover a wide range of topics. Therefore, since Lewis and Tolkien share so much in common with their worldview, there are many times when Lewis can be used to explain why Tolkien is illustrating with The Lord of the Rings. It may seem odd to some that there is a book by a significant, articulate, and well-studied philosopher delving into the underpinnings of a fantasy world. After all, especially since the movies have been released, there are enthusiasts of various ages that dress up in costumes and play act as the many fantastical characters of the epic novel. A better question, however, is why the imaginative world of a twentieth century Roman Catholic inspires nones, pagans, Christians, atheists, and others to invest so much of their lives. Even before the movies caught on there were many people of diverse backgrounds who found the story of Frodo’s quest to destroy the One Ring a compelling narrative. Graffiti popped up on college campuses shortly after The Lord of the Rings was published declaring that “Frodo lives.” Even SciFi legend Leonard Nimoy felt condemned to write a song honoring Bilbo Baggins. Tolkien is popular because he points to something deep and meaningful. For many years I struggled to articular why I read The Hobbit dozens of times and have read The Lord of the Rings about once a year for many years. Kreeft provides an easier path to understanding the powerful vision under the surface of The Lord of the Rings that draws thoughtful readers back again and again. It isn’t simply that Tolkien wrote with a greater detail and presented a more thoroughly consistent world than any other fantasy writer. Rather, it is that the world he created is overlaid on the greatest and truest myth there ever was—Christianity. Tolkien’s creation points toward reality as it really is and as it is described by Christianity. For the academically minded Christian who wonders what the Tolkien fandom is all about, The Philosophy of Tolkien provides a serious exploration of the value of this fantastical story that extends well beyond entertainment. For the Tolkien-lover wondering why philosophy and theology matter, Kreeft’s book opens doors to abstractions like metaphysics and epistemology through the world that The Lord of the Rings fans already know so well. There is a certain sort of homeschooler who would benefit greatly for having this book put into their hands. As for me, I found the book both delightful and instructive. It was an enjoyable way to pass the time thinking about a story I love and thinking more carefully about the real world I live in. NOTE: This is a version of a review posted at Ethics and Culture.

I wasn’t planning on reviewing this one, but had so many requests for my thoughts on it that I figured I might as well put pen to paper. I read this as part of my research for the next book I’m working on and also because I’m a Tolkienphile. With that in mind, The Philosophy of Tolkien was the most enjoyable book I’ve read in a very long time and should be required reading for anyone who loves Tolkien. Kreeft opens the wardrobe to Middle-earth. I feel like I know Tolkien and Middle-earth better after reading this. That’s a feat considering how many times I’ve read Tolkien’s stories. On the other hand, I shouldn’t be surprised because “The Lord of the Rings is a deep mine with many precious gems,” Kreeft says, “deep enough for many others to plumb to their hearts’ content” (20). The format is straightforward. Kreeft discusses the big questions of philosophy with Tolkien’s point of view in his line of site. Each assertion is backed up by quotations from The Lord of the Rings, his other writings (regularly his Letters and The Silmarillion), and usually C. S. Lewis. I would normally point you to some of my favorite sections at this point, but I have underlines, notes, marginalia, and the like on almost every page. It’s a repository of wisdom on Tolkien. I will mention I enjoyed how Kreeft shows how poorly the critics of Tolkien (who can’t stand that The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are beloved classics and can’t stand The Lord of the Rings was voted book of the Millennium and Tolkien the most influential authors of the 20th century) understand him or his work. They cannot wrap their minds around someone who holds to a Christian worldview during a time where modernism and then postmodernism were infecting all of literature. It’s like trying to explain the intricacies of delicate and delicious coffee to someone who has no taste buds. They’re just as happy with Folgers instant coffee than a single source, shade grown, hand picked coffee bean roasted to perfection. I must give credit where credit is due. Nate Claiborne recommended this book to me. I wouldn’t have read it without his thumbs up. I’ve read a lot of Tolkien criticism and have been left disappointed with most of it. Kreeft doesn’t disappoint.

I'm not sure how often I have read "The Lord of the Rings." For sure, the first time would have been around 1958, when I was about twelve years old. This was before the book became so popular, so I spent a decade telling friends about this magnificent book. Then the hippies got "into" this book and almost entirely failed to understand it. As the years rolled by, I began to seriously wonder what I meant when I said that the hippies failed to understand it. They generally understood the story, and the beauty of the story, but what they didn't grasp was the world-view, the understanding of humanity, which gave birth to the tale. Now, thankfully, this book answers the underlying question, and does a splendid job of doing it. If you are a fan of Tolkien, you owe it to yourself to at least LOOK at this book, and find out whether you are really into dressing-up like Orcs and Elves for fantasy conventions, or interested in the philosophical and theological background which is expressed in almost every line of the book. I'll throw in an example, one of the "50 questions" which are the backbone of this book: "Which is more important, romance or sex?" You will probably not be a bit surprised to learn Tolkien's answer, which was clearly "romance." But it may lead to asking yourself the parallel question: "Which is more important TO YOU, romance or sex?" All in all, a great piece of writing and a book which belongs in your library.

Prof. Kreeft provides an absolutely delightful and well-structured guide to the ideas and beliefs underpinning Tolkien's work. In his introduction he suggests that his book, unlike LOTR, will be somehow less enjoyable, yet relevant. I would beg to disagree. "The Philosophy of Tolkien" is merely a pleasure of a different kind. LOTR brings us into a mythological world where we can quickly lose ourselves to the richness and texture. By contrast, Prof. Kreeft's book is like wandering through a beautifully ordered museum focused on a single artist -- in this case J.R.R. Tolkien. The author shows connections and threads, ideas and motivations. After wandering this museum, at least this one Philistine came away with a much clearer understanding of why Tolkien's work has touched me at such a deep level. My first reading was of a paperback copy given by my grandmother when I was 11. Now, at 50, I cannot count the number of copies that I've ploughed through or given to friends. Prof. Kreeft clearly explains my "obsession" and the deep human needs that have driven it. Another delight of this must-read-over-and-over book is the author's weaving of other writers to explain, elucidate, and extend Tolkien's ideas. Especially pleasurable for me is that Prof. Kreeft draws from books that I have read -- by Lewis, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, and others -- as well as from books that an engineer-turned-MBA would have never gone near. My must-read list has grown dramatically. In short, this is a magical book, a door to learning about ourselves. I couldn't put it down.

This book has been on my reading "wish list" since it came out a few years ago. I finally made time to read it, and I'm so glad I did! As Kreeft -- a Roman Catholic theologian and a professor of philosophy at Boston University -- points out in the introduction, The Lord of the Rings is widely considered the greatest book of the twentieth century, though not all literary critics agree. Of course, I would certainly have to join the ranks of those showering accolades upon Tolkien's masterpiece! This book is exactly what you might expect from its title: a study of the philosophical themes and underlying worldview behind the story of LOTR. Many authors have attempted similar books seeking to cash in on the story's popularity, but few have done it well. Thankfully, Kreeft has given us an outstanding work that is both educational and enjoyable; academically substantial yet easily accessible. At times, his wit and humor even had me laughing out loud! The format of the book is simple: Fifty philosophical questions are separated into 13 categories. Kreeft explains the meaning and importance of each question, and then shows how the question is answered using quotes from LOTR, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion. Tolkien's thoughts on the matter are further explored, making use of his other writings -- most notably letters he had written, as well as an essay entitled On Fairy-Stories. Each question's section ends with a quote from the writings of C.S. Lewis -- Tolkien's closest friend and fellow Oxford professor -- which directly states the same philosophy. The two had great influence on one another, and throughout this book we see how closely they paralleled one another due to what Kreeft calls their "common familiarity with and respect for the same sources in the great tradition, that is, pre-modern Western literature, philosophy, and religion." As someone not particularly well-versed in the academic field of philosophy, I enjoyed very much this foray into the method of investigating philosophical issues. Indeed, "an introduction to philosophy" is one of the four uses of this book suggested by its author, though that is not the reason I initially chose to read it. Still, while some of the questions asked in this book are particular to LOTR, most are broad in scope, and could be applied to any religion, cultural artifact, or work of literature. At many points in the book, Tolkien's views are compared and contrasted with those of history's great philosophers, from Plato to Satre to Nietzsche. Kreeft's logic is impeccable, and the systematic progression of thought in this book presents a very strong case for his conclusions. Though I do not wish to spoil for you the joy of discovering these conclusions for yourself as you read through this book, I feel it won't be giving too much away to say that Kreeft concludes that Tolkien's philosophy is unabashedly Christian, and specifically Catholic -- something Tolkien himself has claimed in so many words. While Christ (or religion itself, for that matter) is nowhere explicit in the text of LOTR, Christianity is implicit throughout the story in the philosophical worldview which undergirds it. I nearly wore out the pen I was using to underline memorable and thought-provoking lines from the book. Time does not allow me to share all of the truly great insights Kreeft provides (another reason why you should buy and read it yourself!), but there was one thing that especially caught my interest. This was where Kreeft pointed out Tolkien's portrayal of the Old Testament pre-figuring of the Messiah as prophet, priest, and king, represented by Gandalf, Frodo, and Aragorn, respectively. Not allegorically, of course, but in the sense that each of those characters was something of a "Christ figure" (down to the fact that all three had apparent deaths and resurrections in LOTR), exemplifying lives of self-sacrifice and virtue, albeit in very different manners. If you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings, you will greatly enjoy and benefit from this book. It will give you a brand new understanding of what may well be your favorite story... not to mention an itch to read the trilogy again! Now where did I put my copy of The Fellowship of the Ring?

Peter J. Kreeft’s The Philosophy of Tolkien is a really good book. While he uses this text to reaffirm his own belief in a Christian god, and these elves are not really Christian, we feel certain that his conclusions are an accurate reflection of Tolkien’s own beliefs, for he was a Catholic. Often, it seems to these elves that Mr. Kreeft while appearing to use logic and reason for his affirmation of his Christian beliefs actually, at the last moment, does a sort of intellectual slight of hand and ends up with faith rather than fact for his final assertions. However, that doesn’t bother us at all. Being lovers of Tolkien’s works and having an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Religion we find this book quite well written and intriguing, even if it is not always logical. But then, we are elves and Mr. Kreeft is clearly, like Tolkien, a hobbit and our worldviews tend to be different. Still, we know that in sharing Middle Earth with these hobbits we are dealing with good, decent folk, and really what more can one ask for? The Silver Elves authors of Faerie Unfolding: The Cosmic Expression of the Divine Magic .

Kreeft writes a great book that analyzes fundamental philosophical questions inspired by and contained in The Lord of the Rings. He does this with the help of C.S. Lewis and a strong philosophical background. Although Kreeft mentions himself in the book that this book is "not about Tolkien's world", but "about...Tolkien's philosopy", this does not in any way detract from it. Kreeft allows one to not only deeper appreciate The Lord of the Rings and its symbolic value, but appreciate the work's applicability to our own lives. Kreeft raises fundamental philosophical questions and answers them in large part with the help of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. (Questions like: "Does God exist?", "Are we both fated and free?", "Is death good or bad?", "What do we most deeply desire?", etc.) He then analyzes how The Lord of the Rings answers these questions through the story itself. Any fan of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, or Chesterton would greatly enjoy this book. The book also is a great introduction to philosophy, especially for Tolkien fans. Even if you don't agree with Tolkien's philosophy, Kreeft presents it in a compelling way that unveils Lord of the Rings' deep meaning. You'll probably want to read the LOTR (again) after reading this. Most of the negative reviews have to do with confusion about the subject of this book. Being a fan of the LOTR myself, I enjoyed how Kreeft unveiled the worldview behind the LOTR and after reading it, will better perceive Tolkien's philosophy and the deeper meaning behind the LOTR as a whole.

Tolken was a Catholic, and The Lord of the Rings was a "Catholic" novel. Peter Kreeft is probably one of the best authors to explain the philosophy behind it. Here is the reason I know it is a good book though. You see when you get 2 star reviewers say things like the following, you know its a good book: "will learn a lot about the philosophy of Peter Kreeft, and what a narrow philosophy it is." "but I do object to the frequently dismissive and insulting tone the author took toward those who disagree with his philosophy." The ignorance is strong with these commentors. Apparently philosophy is philosophy unless its Christianity. Or if its Christianity its obviously a "narrow philosophy." I have found that the best way to judge Kreeft's books is to read the 1 and 2 star reviews. Depending on how much they hate the book, that is how good the book really is. Usually its a lot faster than reading the more thought out but lengthy 4 and 5 star reviews.

Surprising person, JRR Tolkien and surprising book

Excellent guide to the philosophy and theology behind Tolkien’s work

Great book

Die Tolkien-Begeisterung des Autors Wer das Buch „Der Herr der Ringe“ öffnet, steigt in eine reale Welt ein. Wie C. S. Lewis sagt, liefert ein Mythos all die Dinge, die wir kennen, mit ihrer reichen inneren Bedeutung. Sie lüftet den „Schleier der Vertrautheit“ Kein Wunder ist „Der Herr der Ringe“ in weltweiten Umfragen zum besten Buch des 20. Jahrhunderts gewählt worden. „Gewöhnliche Leute glauben immer noch an eine wirkliche Moral, an einen realen Unterschied zwischen Gut und Böse; an eine objektive Wahrheit und die Möglichkeit diese zu erkennen; und an die Überlegenheit des Schönen über das Hässliche.“ Die fünf Kennzeichen eines grossen Werkes Kreeft nennt fünf Charakteristika: 1. Ein guter Handlungsverlauf, eine grosse Tat, ein gutes Werk, etwas das sich zu tun lohnt. 2. Grossartige Charakteren oder zumindest ein genialer Charakter, mit dem/denen sich der Leser identifizieren kann. 3. Ein interessantes Setting, eine anziehende Welt 4. Ein erhebender Stil 5. Eine Weltsicht, die Einsicht in uns selbst, unser Leben und unsere Welt bietet. Der Aufbau des Buches Die Literatur spricht, argumentiert und überzeugt durch konkrete Handlungen, während Philosophie dasselbe auf einer abstrakten Ebene tut. Gott hat sich in der Bibel grösstenteils über Erzählungen von Ereignissen offenbart. Kreefts Buch ist didaktisch aufbereitet. Der Frage folgt jeweils eine kurzgefasste Antwort aus Sicht der (neo-thomistischen) Philosophie. Dann zitiert Kreeft kurze Abschnitte aus Tolkiens Werk (Silmarillion, Hobbits, Herr der Ringe), aus seinen Briefen sowie aus dem Werk von C. S. Lewis. 50 Leitfragen für die menschliche Existenz Es lohnt sich, die 50 Fragen aufzuführen. Sie können als Wegweiser durch die wesentlichen Fragen unseres Seins dienen. 1. Metaphysik 1.1 Wie gross (umfassend) ist die Realität? 1.2 Ist das Übernatürliche real? 1.3 Sind die Platonischen Ideen real? 2. Philosophische Theologie 2.1 Existiert Gott? 2.2 Ist das Leben Gegenstand göttlicher Vorsehung? 2.3 Ist unser Leben vorbestimmt und wir trotzdem in unseren Handlungen frei? 2.4 Können wir durch Religion Beziehung zu Gott aufnehmen? 3. Engel 3.1 Gibt es Engel? 3.2 Haben wir Schutzengel? 3.3 Gibt es Wesen zwischen Engeln und Menschen wie z. B. Elfen? 4. Kosmologie 4.1 Ist die Natur wirklich schön? 4.2 Haben Dinge Persönlichkeit? 4.3 Gibt es Magie wirklich? 5. Anthropologie 5.1 Ist der Tod gut oder schlecht? 5.2 Ist Romantik aufregender als Sex? 5.3 Warum haben Menschen Identitätskrisen? 5.4 Was wünschen wir uns am tiefsten? 6. Epistemologie 6.1 Ist Erkenntnis immer gut? 6.2 Ist Intuition eine Form der Erkenntnis? 6.3 Ist Glaube (Vertrauen) Weisheit oder Ignoranz? 6.4 Was ist Wahrheit? 7. Geschichtsphilosophie 7.1 Ist Geschichte eine Geschichte (story)? 7.2 Ist die Vergangenheit (Tradition) ein Gefängnis oder eine Erleuchtung? 7.3 Ist Geschichte vorhersagbar? 7.4 Gibt es neben der Evolution auch eine Devolution? 7.5 Ist menschliches Leben eine Tragödie oder eine Komödie? 8. Ästhetik 8.1 Warum haben wir nicht länger Herrlichkeit oder Pracht? 8.2 Ist Schönheit immer gut? 9. Sprachphilosophie 9.1 Wie können Worte lebendig sein? 9.2 Metaphysik der Worte: Können Worte wirkliche Kraft sein? 9.3 Gibt es richtige und falsche Worte? 9.4 Gibt es eine universelle, ursprüngliche und natürliche Sprache? 9.5 Warum ist Musik so kraftvoll? 10. Politische Philosophie 10.1 Ist klein schön? 10.2 Kann Krieg edel (noble) sein? 11. Ethik: Der Kampf zwischen Gut und Böse 11.1 Ist Böses real? 11.2 Wie kraftvoll ist Böses? 11.3 Wie schwach ist Böses? 11.4 Wie funktioniert Böses? 12. Ethik: Die “harten” Tugenden 12.1 Machen Prinzipien oder Tugenden eine gute Handlung aus? 12.2 Warum müssen wir Helden sein? 12.3 Kann jemand ohne Hoffnung leben? 12.4 Ist Autorität unterdrückend und Gehorsam erniedrigend? 12.5 Sind Verheissungen heilig? 13. Ethik: Die “weichen” Tugenden 13.1 Worin besteht die Kraft der Freundschaft 13.2 Ist Demut demütigend? 13.3 Was solltest du weggeben? 13.4 Triumphiert Güte über Gerechtigkeit? 13.5 Ist Wohltätigkeit (charity) eine Verschwendung? Fazit Die Gruppierung um 50 philosophische Fragen lässt das Buch als Konkordanz nützen. Es steigt aus einer Vielzahl von Perspektiven in die Welt von Mittelerde ein. Es passiert mit dem Leser, was Kreeft von guter Sekundärliteratur zu Tolkien erwartet: Es erfasst ihn ein Verlangen und die Freude, zur Primärliteratur zurückzugehen.

This is a well- thought- out and well-written book. I found it fascinating and it gives an extra dimension when reading Tolkein's works. I enjoyed it immensely.