Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy - by Joshua Heter & Josef Thomas Simpson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Isaac Asimov's Foundation is the most influential
science-fiction epic of all time.

Published as a series of books and short stories from the 1940s to the 1980s,
the series has impacted most subsequent science fiction, and influenced
sciences like sociology, statistics, and psychology. The story has now been
made into a highly acclaimed TV serial (Foundation), on Apple TV, the
second season now shooting in Prague.

The story begins 45,000 years in the
future, and spans centuries in which a vast and successful interstellar human
empire is unknowingly headed for total collapse. Using an advanced mathematical
technique called psycho-history, a brilliant scientist, Hari Seldon, predicts
the collapse and establishes a "foundation" to bring about the resurrection of
human civilization many generations in the future.

Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy is a collection of twenty-four chapter by philosophers exploring the philosophical issues and puzzles raised by this epic story. Topics include whether one individual can make a big difference in history, the ethics of manipulating large populations of people to bring about a desirable future result, the Dao of non-action, the impact of education on future generations, whether human affairs are governed by predictable cycles, whether attempts to plan for the future must be thwarted by free will, the futility of empire-building, the ethics of cloning human beings, and the use of logic in analyzing human behavior.
Joshua Heter teaches philosophy at Jefferson College, Missouri, and is co-editor of Better Call Saul and Philosophy: I Think Therefore I Scam (2022).
Josef Thomas Simpson is an academic coach and part-time lecturer. He contributed chapters to Westworld and Philosophy: Mind Equals Blown (2019) and Orphan Black and Philosophy: Grand Theft DNA (2016).

Review Quotes

Isaac Asimov (January 2, 1920 -
April 6, 1992) was an American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston
University. During his lifetime, Asimov was considered one of the "Big
Three" science fiction writers, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur
C. Clarke. A prolific writer, he wrote or edited more than 500 books. He also
wrote an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. Best known for his hard
science fiction, Asimov also wrote mysteries and fantasy, as well as much
non-fiction. (Wikipedia)

Simply stated, novelist Isaac
Asimov's Foundation trilogy is arguably the most influential science-fiction
epic of all time.

Published as a series of books
and short stories from the 1940s to the 1980s, the series has impacted most
subsequent science fiction, and influenced sciences like sociology, statistics,
and psychology. The story has now been made into a highly acclaimed TV serial
(Foundation), on Apple TV, the second season now shooting in Prague.

The story begins 45,000 years in
the future, and spans centuries in which a vast and successful interstellar
human empire is unknowingly headed for total collapse. Using an advanced
mathematical technique called psycho-history, a brilliant scientist, Hari
Seldon, predicts the collapse and establishes a "foundation" to bring
about the resurrection of human civilization many generations in the future.

Asimov's Foundation and
Philosophy is a collection of twenty-four chapter by philosophers exploring the
philosophical issues and puzzles raised by this epic story. Topics include
whether one individual can make a big difference in history, the ethics of
manipulating large populations of people to bring about a desirable future
result, the Dao of non-action, the impact of education on future generations,
whether human affairs are governed by predictable cycles, whether attempts to
plan for the future must be thwarted by free will, the futility of
empire-building, the ethics of cloning human beings, and the use of logic in
analyzing human behavior.

Critique: Of special appeal to
the legions of Isaac Asimov fans, and deftly co-edited by the team of Joshua
Heter and Josef Thomas Simpson, "Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy"
is a compendium of twenty-three erudite and inherently interesting articles on
the impact of the Foundation series on popular culture, introducing the concept
of 'psychohistory'. Enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of an eight page
Bibliography, a four page listing of the contributors and their credentials
(The Encyclopedists), and a three page Index, "Asimov's Foundation and
Philosophy" is a significant and unreservedly recommended addition to
personal, community, and academic library Popular Culture & Philosophy
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Asimov's
Foundation and Philosophy" is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note #1: Joshua Heter
(https: //philpeople.org/profiles/joshua-heter) teaches philosophy at Jefferson
College, Missouri, and is co-editor of Better Call Saul and Philosophy: I Think
Therefore I Scam (2022).

Editorial Note #2: Josef Thomas
Simpson (https: //philpeople.org/profiles/josef-thomas-simpson) is an academic
coach and part-time lecturer. He contributed chapters to Westworld and Philosophy:
Mind Equals Blown (2019) and Orphan Black and Philosophy: Grand Theft DNA
(2016).