Introducing Philosophy Through Pop Culture - 2nd Edition by William Irwin & David Kyle Johnson (Paperback)

About the Book

"Though Trey Parker and Matt Stone haven't been killed for it (they did receive death threats after their 200th episode) the creators of South Park have faced accusations much like those that led to Socrates' execution: the corruption of youth and the teaching of vulgar, irreligious behavior. A closer examination, however, reveals that South Park is very much within the Platonic tradition, as Kyle and Stan engage in questioning and dialogue in order to "learn something today." Moreover, the mob mentality of the parents, along with the malicious yet mimetic evil of Cartman, demonstrates how evil emerges from thoughtlessness: a failure to ask if one can live with oneself, and a failure to out oneself in the place of others. Through its different characters, and even its apparently mindless vulgarity, South Park shows the need for engaging in dialogue, and thinking from others' perspectives, in order to pursue wisdom, examine life, and make it worth living."--

Book Synopsis

Can Wonder Woman help us understand feminist philosophy? How Does Wakandan technology transcend anti-Blackness? What can Star Trek teach us about the true nature of reality?

Introducing Philosophy Through Pop Culture makes important philosophical concepts and the work of major philosophers relevant, fun, and exciting. Using engaging examples from film and television, this easy-to-read book covers everything from basic metaphysics and epistemology to abstract and complex philosophical ideas about ethics and the meaning of life. You don't have to be a pop culture expert to benefit from this book--even a general awareness of cultural icons like Superman or Harry Potter will be more than enough for you to learn about a wide range of philosophical notions, thinkers, and movements.

The expanded second edition offers timely coverage of important topics such as race, gender, personal identity, social justice, and environmental ethics. New essays explore the philosophical underpinnings of The Good Place, Game of Thrones, Black Panther, Star Wars, The Avengers, South Park, The Lego Movie, The Big Bang Theory, and more. This edition is supported by a new website with links to primary philosophical texts, information about all the popular culture discussed, and additional resources for teachers, students, and general readers alike.

• Features a selection of key essays from the bestselling Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series
• Draws on examples from popular media including The Matrix, Lost, Doctor Strange, The Hobbit, Westworld, and Star Trek
• Explains philosophical concepts such as relativism, skepticism, existentialist ethics, logic, social contract theory, utilitarianism, and mind-body dualism
• Discusses the ideas of Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Descartes, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Marx, Mill, Kierkegaard, and other important thinkers

Introducing Philosophy Through Pop Culture is an excellent supplementary textbook for introductory philos for introductory philosophy courses and a valuable resource for general readers wanting to learn about philosophy and its connections with pop culture.

From the Back Cover

Can Wonder Woman help us understand feminist philosophy?
How Does Wakandan technology transcend anti-Blackness?
What can Star Trek teach us about the true nature of reality?

Introducing Philosophy Through Pop Culture uses engaging examples from popular media to teach readers about a wide range of philosophical concepts, from the fundamentals of metaphysics and epistemology to complex ideas about ethics, faith, and the meaning of life. Easy-to-read essays drawn from the bestselling Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series make the work of thinkers including Socrates, Aristotle, Descartes, Nietzsche, and Kierkegaard approachable, relevant, and exciting.

This expanded second edition addresses important topics such as race, gender, personal identity, social justice, and environmental ethics. Brand-new essays explore how The Good Place, Game of Thrones, Black Panther, Star Wars, The Avengers, South Park, The Lego Movie, The Big Bang Theory, and other films and television shows relate to skepticism, existentialist ethics, social contract theory, utilitarianism, and more.

Supported by a new website with links to primary philosophical texts and information about the popular culture discussed, Introducing Philosophy Through Pop Culture, Second Edition remains an excellent supplementary textbook for introductory philosophy courses and a valuable resource for general readers wanting to learn about philosophy and its connections with pop culture.

About the Author

WILLIAM IRWIN is a Professor of Philosophy at King's College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He originated the philosophy and pop culture genre of books with Seinfeld and Philosophy in 1999. He is General Editor of the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series and the author of The Meaning of Metallica: Ride the Lyrics.

DAVID KYLE JOHNSON is a Professor of Philosophy at King's College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He is Editor of Inception and Philosophy and Black Mirror and Philosophy, and is Editor-in-Chief of The Palgrave Handbook of Popular Culture as Philosophy.