LotR -- Book 6 - Chapter 2 - The Land of Shadow

[Kuruharan]

That Sam takes him and carries him. It seems to me that, if it was the Ring that was driving Frodo, it would not know before this moment that they were going to the Mountain.

I'm afraid that it is inaccurate to think that the Ring did not know where they were going. It had been stated in the Ring's presence countless times. However, it is interesting to ponder if the Ring was trying to steer Frodo away toward Barad-dur and it wasn't quite able to. However, as I stated earlier, I don't think it mattered to the Ring because I think the Ring knew that Frodo would not be able to harm it.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

It had been stated in the Ring's presence countless times.

That brings up the question: Could the Ring hear?

[Kuruharan]

Could the Ring hear?

Uhhh...obviously not like we do. However, I don't think it would be pushing too far to say that it could pick up a "vibe" from things said around it.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Picking up a "vibe" is definitely not the same thing as hearing - and understanding - the contents of words that are spoken in one's presence! Methinks the Ring is being given more credit than behoves its actual abilities. Intuitive, yes; influential, yes; but not nearly as much an active participant in events as some have assumed.

[Kuruharan]

I'm not sure you understood what I meant. And your second sentence is interesting because...

Intuitive, yes; influential, yes; but not nearly as much an active participant in events as some have assumed.

...if the Ring is to be intuitive and influential then it has to have some understanding of what is going on around it. You will have to explain how it could possibly be otherwise.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

...if the Ring is to be intuitive and influential then it has to have some understanding of what is going on around it. You will have to explain how it could possibly be otherwise.

I'm not sure I can explain, but I'm thinking of intuition such as is found in animals. For example, my dog can understand what's going on, but not my exact words. She knows we're going to drive in the car, but though she hears when I mention the goal, she does not know what the words mean. This is not precisely the same thing, but I hope it illustrates the general idea.

[Aiwendil]

Estelyn wrote:

I'm not sure I can explain, but I'm thinking of intuition such as is found in animals. For example, my dog can understand what's going on, but not my exact words. She knows we're going to drive in the car, but though she hears when I mention the goal, she does not know what the words mean. This is not precisely the same thing, but I hope it illustrates the general idea.

Yes, I think this is what I was trying to get at earlier. I don't believe that the Ring can think or know or decide. It does not take in information and analyze it as we do. It has only a will and no mind; it can feel but it can't observe.

[drigel]

Picking up a "vibe" is definitely not the same thing as hearing - and understanding - the contents of words that are spoken in one's presence! Methinks the Ring is being given more credit than behoves its actual abilities. Intuitive, yes; influential, yes; but not nearly as much an active participant in events as some have assumed.

I tend to agree, although we may be in the minority here. I think more towards the use of personification as a literary device, rather than taken literally, although the writing style leaves a lot to the imagination (Balrogs "flying", "wings" of shadow etc).
I may be alone here, but I am thinking the ring picked a vibe on a bearer as much as my power saw picked up a vibe from the electrical current as I plugged it in.