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"Blackwell’s Philosophy and PopCulture series sets itself the remarkable task of making philosophy "relevant," lamenting the subject’s ongoing "public relations problem" and resolving to change things for the better. …[I]f this volume is indicative of the series as a whole then I will happily review each and every one, for I found it to be, by and large, a stimulating and worthwhile read… Philosophy, it seems, is no longer under the guardianship of office-bound professors fluent in Latin but ignorant of popular culture. Jason T. Eberl’s "ragtag fleet" of contributors has helped in some small way to redress the balance, and I for one applaud their efforts." (Claire Graham, Kaleidoscope, October 2008)
"The essays are … quite good, and to me they seem to satisfactorily serve the purpose of introducing fans of BSG to classic and contemporary philosophical problems and questions, and even professional philosophers might learn a thing or two. The essays in the anthology are both accessible and quite easy to read, and can be commended to those interested in philosophy and Battlestar Galactica." (Metapsychology, October 2008)
"The writers are well versed in their subjects … .The book is most effective at making the reader rethink what they thought they knew." (Neo-opsis)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another Great Entry in the Series,
By Lost Hobbits (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Knowledge Here Begins Out There (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series) (Paperback)
I am not sure Bill Irwin knew what sort of success he would have when he first proposed the idea of exploring pop culture from a philosophical background, but he seems to have tapped into something that is at once approachable and thought provoking.
I have only seen one or two episodes of the current Battlestar Galactica series, but that did not stop me from looking at the topics that are covered in this book. Like the Matrix series and the Star Wars and Philosophy book, this one looks at what it means to be not only human, but alive, tackling such topics as happiness (Aristotle's Ethics and Rhetoric), the Needs of the Many and the Few, Death, Desire, Machiavellian-isms and other meaty topics that are played out every day in the real world as well as on screen. There are even subtle hints and discussions about the design of life (especially given the Cylon presence). A great read so far and very thought provoking. I finish an essay and reach for my copy of Aristotle to read more (or the Matrix or Star Wars book in the Open Court Series to find similar articles and see if the same conclusions are drawn). The book is well written and very readable for those without a philosophical background, but for those with one, the possibilities are endless.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating read and examination of themes in BSG,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Knowledge Here Begins Out There (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series) (Paperback)
This book will be pretty much meaningless if you are not a fan of the show. It explores the philosophical ideas raised by the show, such as what it means to be human, gender roles, Darwinian survival, religion, etc. This is largely what kept me in the show originally, was the bigger issues raised by the show and how the characters responded to them.
There is a whole line of these books, covering Seinfeld, the Simpsons, the Matrix, Star Trek, etc. The only one I have ever bought is Seinfeld, but I really couldn't get into it. Highly recommended for fans of the show.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read about our future now,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Knowledge Here Begins Out There (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series) (Paperback)
This book is a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the ethics, morals, and philosophical questions dug up during the new Battlestar Galactica series. While many fans watched BSG and appreciated the story-line drama, there are deep questions that our society will face as we approach trans-human science. Within the next 100 years (or much sooner even), we will be existing along with sentient, artifically-intelligent robotic life forms. The scenarios of Cylon rebellion are completely conceivable within a generation or two. This book explores philosophical concepts that have been around since Roman times in the face of the trans-human future. But they do it by using examples and stories from the BSG series as teachable examples. You may not get a lot from this book if you were not a fan of the series, but if you ever questioned the "What ifs" of a future shared with robots and AI, this well-written book will have you questioning topics like human rights, political fairness, justice, societial norms, and extremely long lives brought on by downloading or uploading our minds. If you are a fan of Ray Kurzweil, you will really appreciate this book as it should be mandatory reading as we approach the technological singularity.
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