Redefining Good Vs. Evil

The Philosophy of David Eddings: The Malloreon

In his five-volume set, The Malloreon, sequel to the Best-Selling Belgariad, David Eddings, the author of Belgarath the Sorcerer, among far too many other titles to list, digs deep into the realm of philosophy.

In the first five books, Eddings covers a lot of philosophical ground. Though many of his ideas have been used by others who came before, they serve as a necessary groundwork for some of the ideas that are yet to come.

In The Malloreon, Eddings shifts into high gear, exploring the concepts of "good" and "evil" in whole new ways.

There are two main philosophical themes, and a few lesser ones, that permeate the work. For starters, Eddings wonders whether history repeats itself because people are just plain stupid, or, if, perchance, the universe is broken. Like a great wheel with a flat tire, its unable to advance. Or, more precisely, it might be like a broken record, going over the same old tune, over and over.

Although the idea is a lesser concept compared to the others, it ties in perfectly. In fact, one could argue that it is a natural off-shoot of the primary philosophy.

In short, what Eddings describes is a conception of good and evil where there is no "balance", but the lack thereof. Instead of the world being in perfect continuous harmony, where evil is a necessity, in order to validate the existence of good, he paints a portrait where good and evil are really nothing more than alternate natures that cannot both be true. They are each the "soul" of the universe, and this reality isn't big enough for the both of them.

The main advantage of the forces of good is that they are able to work together. Where evil uses minions and henchmen, good draws on the full advantage of its resources in presenting a united, cooperative community. The main characters all care for each other, and protect each other, even as fate drives them towards a very uncertain end.

The "bad guys", which is an ironic notion for anyone who has actually read The Malloreon, tend to be a 'me first' kind of crowd. Selfish, arrogant, and prideful (with one very notable exception in their sacrificial lamb).