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Old 11-09-2010, 07:02 PM   #13
Puddleglum
Wight
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 145
Puddleglum has just left Hobbiton.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galadriel55 View Post
They did follow their morals, though.
I know that there are different morals, but the point I'm trying to prove is right vs wrong in a person's (dog's?) head
I may be misunderstanding your meaning (if so, I apologize in advance) but ...

I think the key point is that it is *NOT* sufficient that one simply "follow their morals" to be justified.

In Tolkien's world (I'll avoid discussing our primary world to reduce controversy) Eru is real and the creator from whom all existence derives - and justification depends on *HIS* (if you will, tho I don't think I'd normally phrase it that way) "morals".

One person (or dog ) may or may not know clearly what is REALLY right - but they still can't claim absolute justification by simply saying "You can't condem me because I followed my morals".

If/When Eru (or the Valar/Mandos) judge a Fea (spirit) they may well consider "I honestly thought I was doing what you would say is right" as a mitigating factor - maybe even a fully mitigating factor. But I think the Fea (spirit) would still have to come in submission to their judgment, acknowledging their right and authority to pass the final judgment.

BTW, I'm using "Fea" here a bit loosely since it was a matter of uncertainty even to Tolkien (for a time) whether Huan had a Fea (as an incarnated spirit) or was merely an intelligent animal.
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