Star Trek and Philosophy

[PhilosopherJedi]

Two philosophy professors and die-hard Trekkers, Jason T. Eberl and Kevin S. Decker, are very happy to announce the publication of Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant

http://www.opencourtbooks.com/books_n/star_trek.htm

This is the latest volume in Open Court Press’s “Popular Culture and Philosophy” series. It is available in bookstores nationwide and on Amazon.com.

We hope you enjoy reading it and will share your own philosophical views on the
greatest sci-fi franchise ever.

Live long and prosper!

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I'll give you credit for coming up with a funny name.

 

[Nicklezz]

Could those of you that have read this book say something about what you liked and didn't like about it?

 

[DonIago]

I suspect the thread's going to get closed for advertising in any case...

 

[CaptJimboJones]

Please, can we stop it with the "(Insert Popular Genre Title) and Philosophy" cash-in books?

They all just offer warmed over pop philosophy 101 that generally just makes completely obvious points that most viewers were well aware of when they saw the movie/tv show in question, or they go in the other direction and try to make a philosophical case that essentially has no basis whatsoever in the film they're writing about.

But hey, I guess even philosophy professors have to make a buck, right? Hammer out a few essays, slap the name "Star Trek" on the cover and you'll sell at least a few copies.

OpenCourt, which is publishing this little masterpiece, has thus far published:

1. Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book about Everything and Nothing (2000)image
2. The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer (2001)
3. The Matrix and Philosophy: Welcome to the Desert of the Real (2002)
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale (2003)
5. The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy: One Book to Rule Them All (2003)
6. Baseball and Philosophy: Thinking Outside the Batter's Box (2004)image
7. The Sopranos and Philosophy: I Kill Therefore I Am (2004)
8. Woody Allen and Philosophy: You Mean My Whole Fallacy is Wrong? (2004)
9. Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts (2004)
10. Mel Gibson's Passion and Philosophy: The Cross, the Questions, the Controversy (2004)
11. More Matrix and Philosophy: Revolutions and Reloaded Decoded (2005)
12. Star Wars and Philosophy: More Powerful Than You Can Possibly Imagine (2005)
13. Superheroes and Philosophy: Truth, Justice, and the Socratic Way (2005)
14. The Atkins Diet and Philosophy: Chewing the Fat with Kant and Nietzsche (2005)
15. The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy: The Lion, the Witch, and the Worldview (2005)
16. Hip Hop and Philosophy: Rhyme 2 Reason (2005)image
17. Bob Dylan and Philosophy: It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Thinking) (2006)
18. Harley-Davidson and Philosophy: Full-Throttle Aristotle (2006)
19. Monty Python and Philosophy: Nudge Nudge, Think Think! (2006)
20. Poker and Philosophy: Pocket Rockets and Philosopher Kings (2006)
21. U2 and Philosophy: How to Decipher an Atomic Band (2006)
22. The Undead and Philosophy: Chicken Soup for the Soulless (2006)
23. James Bond and Philosophy: Questions Are Forever (2006)
24. Bullshit and Philosophy: Guaranteed to Get Perfect Results Every Time (2006)
25. The Beatles and Philosophy: Nothing You Can Think That Can't Be Thunk (2006)image
26. South Park and Philosophy: Bigger, Longer, and More Penetrating (2007)
27. Hitchcock and Philosophy: Dial M for Metaphysics (2007)
28. The Grateful Dead and Philosophy: Getting High Minded about Love and Haight (2007)
29. Quentin Tarantino and Philosophy: How to Philosophize with a Pair of Pliers and a Blowtorch (2007)
30. Pink Floyd and Philosophy: Careful with that Axiom, Eugene! (2007)
31. Johnny Cash and Philosophy: The Burning Ring of Truth (2008)
32. Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy: Darkness on the Edge of Truth (2008)
33. Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Mission Accomplished or Mission Frakked Up? (2008)
34. iPod and Philosophy: iCon of an ePoch (2008)
35. Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant (2008)
36. The Legend of Zelda and Philosophy: I Link Therefore I Am (2008)
37. The Wizard of Oz and Philosophy: Wicked Wisdom of the West (2008)

And they list as "forthcoming titles":

* World of Warcraft and Philosophy
* Anime/Manga and Philosophy
* Soccer and Philosophy
* The Rolling Stones and Philosophy
* Stephen Colbert and Philosophy
* Transformers and Philosophy
* Jimmy Buffett and Philosophy
* Martial Arts and Philosophy
* Radiohead and Philosophy
* Led Zeppelin and Philosophy
* The Golden Compass and Philosophy
* Supervillains and Philosophy
* Twilight and Philosophy

 

[Misfit Toy]

Closed - no solicitation.

EDIT - I've been told that this thread would be ok in Trek Lit - so away it goes!! Again, congratulations on your work!

 

[PhilosopherJedi]

As we get ready for the restart of the greatest sci-fi franchise EVER! Please visit the thread to air your philosophical musings inspired by any of the Trek series or films -- personal identity, time travel, logic puzzles and paradoxes, ethics, the nature of reality ... nothing is off-limits!

 

[rangaraj1987]

The same restless and relentless spirit of exploration that propels the voyages of the starship Enterprise is also the driving force of philosophical wonder throughout human history. Star Trek and philosophy share the same prime directive: testing ideas from our past and present to progressively improve our future.
In Star Trek and Philosophy, twenty-one professional philosophers put their brains into warp drive to probe the limits of the limitless, expanding our knowledge of the furthest reaches of thought while also delving deep into the human essence.
“A philosophical feast for Trekkies and other sci-fi fans. One of the things that makes Star Trek so exciting is the philosophical angle it has often presented. Reading this terrific book will prolong and deepen that excitement.”
==============================
<solicitation links removed>

 

[Stevil2001]

Philosophy and Pop Culture vs. Popular Culture and Philosophy: who would win in a fight? I know there's more in the Blackwell series than the eight books listed there; I've a friend who has the Batman one.

 

[PhilosopherJedi]

Philosophy and Pop Culture vs. Popular Culture and Philosophy: who would win in a fight? I know there's more in the Blackwell series than the eight books listed there; I've a friend who has the Batman one.

They're both good publishing series and I have books published in both (e.g., Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Knowledge Here Begins Out There (Blackwell, 2008)).

The history of why there are two such publishing series is a bit complicated and has to do w/ issues of creative differences between the editors and publishers. Certainly, not every single volume in each series is a worthwhile read; but I believe the overall pedagogical purpose of this philosophical genre is a great way to do Philosophy 101 outside of the classroom.

 

[Stevil2001]

I read one essay in Batman and Philosophy and thought it was terrible, but that should by no means reflect on the series as a whole.

I have a colleague with an essay in the upcoming Final Fantasy and Philosophy; I'm sure it'll be brilliant.

 

[Geoff Thorne]

I didn't know there was such a thing as a professional philosopher.

How is performance measured? Who decides which hand is clapping?

 

[Christopher]

I didn't know there was such a thing as a professional philosopher.

You mean you've never seen History of the World, Part I?

 

[Smiley]

I'm fine with using pop culture to illustrate philosophical ideas, and these books are ideal for that purpose. However, most of the time, the underlying ideas of the properties are just not that deep. If you take it too seriously, then you're just deluding yourself.

 

[Christopher]

^The same can be said for the scientific ideas in a work of fiction, but that doesn't mean the fiction can't be a worthwhile entry point for a discussion of the deeper scientific ideas it touches on.

 

[Trilliam]

The textbook I'm currently reading for History and Philosophy of Psychology uses the Emerald City from the book "Wizard of Oz" (not the movie) to illustrate Kant's point.

Also the "Tao of Pooh, and the Te of Tigger" was a recommended reading resource for one of the Counselling subjects I studied as well.

 

[john titor]

Star Trek easily lends itself to philosophy, especially TNG. It may be a cash in but i wouldnt consider the other titles mentioned as being very philosophical. Star Trek is different, its a goldmine of philosophical ideas, Measure of a Man was used in a philosophy talk I attended as a student, it was given by a professor in biology and philosophy in order to explore the question of sentience and how we define it.

 

[Trilliam]

Bioethics is another Philosophical area that Star Trek in all forms lends itself to.

 

[PhilosopherJedi]

Bioethics is another Philosophical area that Star Trek in all forms lends itself to.

I'm actually a bioethicist and my chapter in 'Star Trek and Philosophy' explores the ethical issues surrounding genetic enhancement and cloning as depicted throughout ST.

 

[Trilliam]

Bioethics is another Philosophical area that Star Trek in all forms lends itself to.

I'm actually a bioethicist and my chapter in 'Star Trek and Philosophy' explores the ethical issues surrounding genetic enhancement and cloning as depicted throughout ST.

Well, there you go! I did Bioethics as part of Genetic Counselling

ETA: Then there's the whole thing with Lal (do we own our children?),