Jensen contributes to Hobbit book

Dr. Randy Jensen, professor of philosophy at Northwestern College, is the author of a chapter in "The Hobbit and Philosophy: For When You've Lost Your Dwarves, Your Wizard, and Your Way," a new volume in the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series published by Wiley-Blackwell.

The book was released last October, shortly ahead of the premiere of Peter Jackson's much-anticipated film "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."

Jensen's chapter, "Some Hobbits Have All the Luck," explores the concept of fortune and its importance in how we think about Tolkien's The Hobbit and our own lives. "Bilbo is an incredibly lucky hobbit, most famously when he happens to find a ring in the dark goblin caves," writes Jensen. "But is there such a thing as luck?" he asks.

Jensen has also contributed chapters to Blackwell series books that explore the philosophy of Batman and Johnny Cash—as well as the TV shows "24," "Battlestar Galactica" and "The Office."

A member of Northwestern's faculty since 1999, Jensen earned a doctorate in philosophy from UCLA.