All those "Good" Guys - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lyra Greenleaf · 05-17-2003, 08:43 AM

This is a highly intelligent and philosophical debate. Let me steel myself to enter.

I was thinking of another definition of "goodness", that is "self sacrifice".
This would probably include:
2) Worthy of respect
3) Honorable
10) Of moral excellence
12) Kind
Is this another definition to add to the list? Or just an extension of the originals? After all, this is Frodo's goodness- going to Mordor to save the world. Sam is also self-sacrificing, only in his case it is simply due to loyalty. He doesn't go to Mordor for the greater good but just for Frodo. Does this make him less good? I wouldn't say it would make him "more evil" but is that necessarily the same thing? I can't imagine Merry and Pippin going to Mount Doom, are they more evil than Frodo? What about the Gaffer? Perhaps the black and white definition of good and evil is justified. Sometimes I think it can't be...

05-17-2003, 08:43 AM	#19
Lyra Greenleaf The Diaphanous Dryad Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: R toL: 531, past the wild path Posts: 1,152	This is a highly intelligent and philosophical debate. Let me steel myself to enter. I was thinking of another definition of "goodness", that is "self sacrifice". This would probably include: 2) Worthy of respect 3) Honorable 10) Of moral excellence 12) Kind Is this another definition to add to the list? Or just an extension of the originals? After all, this is Frodo's goodness- going to Mordor to save the world. Sam is also self-sacrificing, only in his case it is simply due to loyalty. He doesn't go to Mordor for the greater good but just for Frodo. Does this make him less good? I wouldn't say it would make him "more evil" but is that necessarily the same thing? I can't imagine Merry and Pippin going to Mount Doom, are they more evil than Frodo? What about the Gaffer? Perhaps the black and white definition of good and evil is justified. Sometimes I think it can't be... __________________ “Sylphs of the forest,” I whispered. “Spirits of oak, beech and ash. Dryads of Rowan and hazel, hear us. You who have guided and guarded our every footstep, you who have sheltered our growth, we honour you." the Forbidden Link