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63rd out of 287 books
—
53 voters
The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldview Behind the Lord of the Rings
by
Peter Kreeft
"Peter Kreeft takes the reader on a voyage of discovery into the philosophical bones of Middle earth. Like a good concordance, this book organizes the philosophical themes in The Lord of the Rings into 50 categories, accompanied by over 1,000 references to the text." Since many of the great questions of philosophy are included in the 50-theme outline, this book can also be...more
Paperback, 237 pages
Published
October 1st 2005
by Ignatius Press
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Kreeft offers a guided tour of basic questions of philosophy and backs up his conjecture of where Tolkien stood on these with passages from his works. As a self-confessed novice (if that) in the realms of philosophy, I appreciated the simplicity of his discussions.
I might add that the reader can easily use the approach the author used in application to any writer or film-maker.
I borrowed this through my library's inter-library loan service and am now compelled to chase down a copy to own. I ma...more
I might add that the reader can easily use the approach the author used in application to any writer or film-maker.
I borrowed this through my library's inter-library loan service and am now compelled to chase down a copy to own. I ma...more
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Peter Kreeft has blown my mind with his book on Philosophy within Tolkien's works and personal letters. For someone who is not well versed in the terminology of philosophy, this book served to be both a fabulous (and understandable) explanation of what philosophy is, and a deep dwelling on how philosophy impacts the world.
The way that Kreeft highlights certain aspects of the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Similarion, blew me away. I could not put my finger on what drew me deeper into tho...more
The way that Kreeft highlights certain aspects of the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Similarion, blew me away. I could not put my finger on what drew me deeper into tho...more
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 bo...more
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 bo...more
A nice little book that could serve as an introduction to philosophy. On the whole, I think that reading this prior to rereading Tolkien's works will greatly enhance my understanding of the depth of the author's work. If nothing else, it has increased my motivation to revisit Tolkien's works.
If I have one criticism of the book it is that Kreeft leans a little too heavily on his citations of C.S. Lewis. In the introduction to the book he references the fact that "G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Bell...more
If I have one criticism of the book it is that Kreeft leans a little too heavily on his citations of C.S. Lewis. In the introduction to the book he references the fact that "G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Bell...more
In The Philosophy of Tolkien, Peter Kreeft proposes to explain the enormous and continuing popularity of Tolkien’s books. His claim is daring because it makes much the same point that Tolkien made decades ago when he wrote that fairy tales and fantasy should not be dismissed as mere “escapism.” He argues that readers find themselves drawn to Middle-earth not because they want to escape their own reality, but because they find there a deeper reality. Kreeft’s book serves as a guide to that deeper...more
Just for fun. (But, actually, it was pretty boring for anyone who has had a decent philosophy 101 course. It's a good philosophy primer, but as it spends significant time and space explaining the questions it offers very little on the actual text at hand. Besides, the use of the world "worldview" is antiquated and deducing such a thing relies on dubious assumptions.)
Not only a helpful guide to philosophical aspects of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of The Rings" but also a compact review of various branches of philosophy. Kreeft's book is a practical resource for those desiring to develop further from an introductory understanding of philosophy. "The Lord of The Rings," in conjunction with Kreeft’s book, can be seen to sustain a comprehensive philosophical worldview as held by Tolkien. Kreeft encourages readers and lovers of Tolkien’s writing to consider more f...more
Gives fresh insights on LOTR that you will want to look for in your next re-reading. I like the way the author makes you see things in a different way, and at the same time encourages you to explore the themes yourself. My only complaint is that the book is a bit inaccurate on some details.
This is the kind of book that changes how you think and who you are. It's philosophy written brilliantly and illustrated by Tolkien's masterpieces.
Every page will set of a new train of thought and by far the most of those will be highly profitable as well as stimulating. There are, however, a few odd things taught. Some of these are due to Lewis's influence on the writer; but then most of the best thoughts in the book are due to Lewis as much as Tolkien. Others are due to the fact that the auth...more
Every page will set of a new train of thought and by far the most of those will be highly profitable as well as stimulating. There are, however, a few odd things taught. Some of these are due to Lewis's influence on the writer; but then most of the best thoughts in the book are due to Lewis as much as Tolkien. Others are due to the fact that the auth...more
Not quite what I was expecting, but still interesting. Looking forward to revisiting LoTR again :)
Good insights.
Peter Kreeft is probably the most accessible and entertaining man writing in philosophy today, and in this book he turns his uncompromising style to examining the fundamental wordlview that underlay Tolkien's and provides the themes for his great works. This book is valuable for a proper understanding of The Lord of the Rings.
Normally you slap Tolkien on the side of a book and i'm all for it. Admittedly, I have never had luck with any book titled "The Philosophy of ___________" (insert movie Title, or book title)...so i wasn't greatly astonished with this book falling below Tolkien's bar. It's a good read at time but at other times its rough. All in all, I was able to grab a lot of information from this book but it wasn't easy.
A great read. It provides great insights into the plot, themes and characters in the Lord of the Rings. C.S. Lewis, The Lord of the Rings, and other works from Tolkien's are quoted in each section as he goes through questions asked in philosophy.
Peter Kreeft admiration for the book shines through. I've listened to Peter Kreeft for years; he's a great speaker and writer that targets the mind and heart.
Peter Kreeft admiration for the book shines through. I've listened to Peter Kreeft for years; he's a great speaker and writer that targets the mind and heart.
Really interesting. Well written and engaging. Kreeft is great to read. Made me want to read LOTR (again).
May 27, 2012
ian
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Peter Kreeft is a Catholic apologist, professor of philosophy at Boston College and The King's College, and author of over 45 books including
Fundamentals of the Faith
,
Everything you Ever Wanted to Know about Heaven
, and
Back to Virtue
. Some consider him the best Catholic philosopher currently residing in the United States. His ideas draw heavily from religious and philosophical tradition, esp...more
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“We all, like Frodo, carry a Quest, a Task: our daily duties. They come to us, not from us. We are free only to accept or refuse our task- and, implicitly, our Taskmaster. None of us is a free creator or designer of his own life. "None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself" (Rom 14:7). Either God, or fate, or meaningless chance has laid upon each of us a Task, a Quest, which we would not have chosen for ourselves. We are all Hobbits who love our Shire, or security, our creature comforts, whether these are pipeweed, mushrooms, five meals a day, and local gossip, or Starbucks coffees, recreational sex, and politics. But something, some authority not named in The Lord of the Rings (but named in the Silmarillion), has decreed that a Quest should interrupt this delightful Epicurean garden and send us on an odyssey. We are plucked out of our Hobbit holes and plunked down onto a Road.”
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“It is mercy, not justice or courage or even heroism, that alone can defeat evil.”
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