A Philosopher watches 'Lord of the rings'
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- We watch a scene from the movie 'The Lord of the Rings: The fellowship of the ring.'
In this scene Gandalf talks to Frodo and passes on some philosophical wisdom.
#philosopher #philosophy #movie #reactionvideo #lordoftherings
Robert is an award-winning author and Quondam Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford.
Miri is a film buff who is endlessly curious.
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You should react to the whole movie and comment everything. All die hard Lord of the rings fans, will watch even 5 hours worth if there is something new to learn if you listen to it through the eyes of a philosopher. Almost every dialogue is so good in these movies.
Good idea!
I often comment on reactors' views of LOTR, and it is a pleasure to view a professional's take on J.R.R. Tolkien's story and Peter Jackson's interpretation of it. The movie makers had to simplify Tolkien's tale in the interest of producing entertaining movies, and some of the nuances of the story are often omitted or glossed over. At 2:25 there is a simplification in this passage we're considering, which I have included in [brackets]: Gandalf says,"There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of Evil. Bilbo was MEANT to find the Ring, [and NOT by its maker]. In which case you also were MEANT to have it. And that is an encouraging thought." Tolkien states explicitly here what is only implied in the movie's dialogue: there are powers in the world of MIddle-earth besides the powers of Evil. Frodo and his friends have forces aiding them that they aren't aware of, though the decisions they make as they confront the evil powers are their own.
I think the producers made their choices and didn't have to change as much as they did. They admit during the commentaries that they often tried diverging from the text for no other reason than to make a change because that is what big name directors do. They don't want to make a movie exactly like the book because they won't get the credit for it.
Very interesting. Brings a whole bigger theme into the scene if that part had remained.
The OT vs NT comparison is by no means a stretch. Tolkien was open about the Catholic influence on his work
Pity is a forbearance you give to someone who is beneath you. Mercy is elevating them to your equal and treating them as you would want to be treated.
Brilliant video, very interesting getting a philosophers’ perspective on these scenes!
That is lovely feedback, very much appreciated! Thank you
1) I don't see the archetypes as "fate" or "destiny" in a determinist sense. Rather, the role of an archetype places certain limits (and expectations) on their behavioral choices.
2) Gandalf's line about "the time given to us," is not about how much time we have or about suggesting that we live in the now. Rather he is talking about how we are not able to choose when we are born or what times we live in (or where we are born and to whom). That also is very much Heideggerian (i.e., "throwness") and of course subsequently existentialist. Though here in Tolkien there is a sense of duty and responsibility that comes with that (especially to the world) that is not very existentialist but more rooted in his Christian influences.
3) This may be very simplistic but mercy to me involves an act, while pity is an emotion that does not necessarily require an act. In this case, Bilbo could have pitied Gollum but not killing him was an act of mercy.
Pity: Often involves sadness or sorrow for someone else's condition.
Mercy: Involves compassion, empathy, and sometimes forgiveness.
good vid!
Thank you!
@robertrowlandsmith no proböem
❤
What a massive exercise in missing the point. The exchange is mostly taken from the begging of the book and moved here for cinematic purposes. You're shoehorning things into your preconceived themes.