They absolutely are people. They clearly show intelligence and sapience. They may be people with morals that are opposed to the other species and they may be at war with them, but dehumanization (depersonization?) isn’t the answer.
They are constructs, imitations of life, animated by the evil will of Morgoth and his foul apprentice Sauron. They’re no more people than ChatGPT is people.
Their entire species was created as a magical weapon. The funny thing they’re really supposed to represent the cruelties of industrialization. Tolkien was not a fan of what England did with technology.
Sure, but that’s irrelevant. The only questions are: are they sapient? And do they have free will? If yes to both, i.e. they can choose their own way, especially once Sauron’s magical control is gone, then they are people.
Saying they aren’t people because someone created/bred them for a specific purpose kinda feels like the people who argue certain dog breeds were bred for X or Y and therefore they should be culled/banned/etc. It simplifies the living creature too far and doesn’t allow them to branch out from what they originally did. It’s essentially genocide on the orc front.
They don’t have a meaningful level of free will from what I understand. That’s part of the process of creating them. They only act within certain boundaries or else resort to raiding and eating… everything. And everyone. Occasionally each other.
I absolutely agree with you. However you could make the point, and of course I am not making that point, but one could argue that there was also some genetic engineering involved, that allegedly might have led to some qualityies that some might call a teeny tiny bit murderous.
Don’t elves have a visceral hatred for orcs, what with them being originally elves brutally deformed and beaten into submission by Morgoth and all that ? If anything, most elves would like you a bit more for being racist towards orcs.
Orcs aren’t people.
Whoa man. Keep those ideas back in the first age where they belong.
Jay we talked about this
They absolutely are people. They clearly show intelligence and sapience. They may be people with morals that are opposed to the other species and they may be at war with them, but dehumanization (depersonization?) isn’t the answer.
They are constructs, imitations of life, animated by the evil will of Morgoth and his foul apprentice Sauron. They’re no more people than ChatGPT is people.
Their entire species was created as a magical weapon. The funny thing they’re really supposed to represent the cruelties of industrialization. Tolkien was not a fan of what England did with technology.
Sure, but that’s irrelevant. The only questions are: are they sapient? And do they have free will? If yes to both, i.e. they can choose their own way, especially once Sauron’s magical control is gone, then they are people.
Saying they aren’t people because someone created/bred them for a specific purpose kinda feels like the people who argue certain dog breeds were bred for X or Y and therefore they should be culled/banned/etc. It simplifies the living creature too far and doesn’t allow them to branch out from what they originally did. It’s essentially genocide on the orc front.
They don’t have a meaningful level of free will from what I understand. That’s part of the process of creating them. They only act within certain boundaries or else resort to raiding and eating… everything. And everyone. Occasionally each other.
Are you suggesting that just because their ancestors were tortured beyond recognition that they are no longer worthy of basic rights?
That’s definitely a hot take if I’ve ever seen one.
I absolutely agree with you. However you could make the point, and of course I am not making that point, but one could argue that there was also some genetic engineering involved, that allegedly might have led to some qualityies that some might call a teeny tiny bit murderous.
More or less a central pillar of the Mormon Church racism.
Well I know who’s next in line for a little chat.
Don’t elves have a visceral hatred for orcs, what with them being originally elves brutally deformed and beaten into submission by Morgoth and all that ? If anything, most elves would like you a bit more for being racist towards orcs.
Elves are super racist toward pretty much every other race.