Supernatural and Philosophy - (Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture) by Galen A Foresman & William Irwin (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

No doubt the years hunting monsters and saving the universe have had their toll on the Winchesters, but their toughest and most gruesome battles are contained in this book. Think Lucifer was diabolically clever? Think again. No son is more wayward than the one who squanders his intellect and academic career pursuing questions as poignant as "Half-awesome? That's full-on good, right?" Gathered here for the first time since the formation of Purgatory, a collection of research so arcane and horrific that it would make even the late, great Bobby Singer blush.

Supernatural and Philosophy tackles all the big ideas in the long-running hit show Supernatural, covering thorny issues in a fun and accessible way. Even those unfamiliar with the show will find fascinating insights into Heaven, Hell, Angels, Demons, God, and Lucifer.

• A unique collection of insights into the many philosophical, religious, and paranormal topics in the hit TV show, Supernatural
• Accessible treatment of thorny issues for a general audience
• Written by philosophical fans of the show, for philosophical fans of the show
• Those unfamiliar with the show will still find fascinating insights into Heaven, Hell, Angels, Demons, God, Lucifer, and Good and Evil
• Contributors tackle issues ranging from the biological classifications of monsters, to the epistemological problems of ghost hunting

From the Back Cover

Can angels be atheists?

Can monsters be moral?

What's the point of Hell?

How is natural different from supernatural?

Is Hell a democracy with warm weather?

Supernatural and Philosophy introduces fans of the show to the big philosophical topics relating to the long-running hit show Supernatural, covering thorny issues in a fun and accessible way. Contributors, themselves philosophical fans of Supernatural, tackle issues ranging from the biological classifications of monsters, to the epistemological problems of ghost hunting, as well as the ultimate questions of life, love, and the moral issues involved in the killing of blood-sucking monsters. Like the great Bobby Singer himself, fans can pore over this tomb, containing essays pertaining to the archaic and monstrous themes of character formation, ethics, and why shows like Supernatural would ever entertain a rational, scientific mind. Even those unfamiliar with the show will find fascinating insights into Heaven, Hell, Angels, Demons, God, Lucifer, and Good and Evil. This unique collection of diverse philosophical essays is written for those who love the self-effacing style of the show's humor, wit, and self-reflection.

Review Quotes

"Saying that, what is covered should be enough here for the 'Supernatural' fan to think about. Don't get spooked." (SFCrowsnest.org.uk, 1 December 2013)

"All in all, through reading this book, I realized philosophical and religious examinations are a lot more fun when they're done side by side with the adventures of Sam and Dean Winchester rather than traditional sources. The correlations make for a very good read. It will certainly change the way we fans see episodes both past and future. Thanks to pop culture, philosophy just isn't for scholars anymore." (The Winchester Family Business, 22 October 2013)

About the Author

Galen A. Foresman is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where he teaches ethics and critical thinking. He is the author of "Why Batman Is Better than Superman" in Batman and Philosophy (Wiley, 2008) and "What's Wrong with Camping?" in Halo and Philosophy (2011).

William Irwin is Professor of Philosophy at King's College. He originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books as coeditor of the bestselling The Simpsons and Philosophy and has overseen recent titles including Superman and Philosophy, Black Sabbath and Philosophy, and Spider-Man and Philosophy.