The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy: One Book to Rule Them All (Popular Culture and Philosophy, Book 5)

Can superhuman Power be used for good or does its exercise always addict the user and end badly? Will nature rise in revolt against technology? Would we find everlasting life a bore and a burden?

These are among the disturbing questions raised by Tolkien's enthralling epic of adventure, The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien himself hoped that his stories would help his readers become better people, and he consciously drew upon some of the most troubling and challenging themes from mythology, religion, and philosophical thought.

Professors Bassham and Bronson have recruited a Fellowship of scholars trained in philosophy and also steeped in the lore of Middle-earth, to delve into some of the fascinating issues raised by The Lord of the Rings. The writers' Quest was to steer clear of both "the webs of wizards" and "the haste of fools," to arrive at a truer understanding of the most magnificent tale of our time.