The Philosophy of The X-Files (The Philosophy of Popular Culture) [Hardcover]

Dean A. Kowalski (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Philosophy of Popular Culture | Publication Date: September 21, 2007

From its first appearance in 1993, The X-Files has attracted millions of viewers interested in the paranormal investigations of intuitionist and belief-driven Fox Mulder and his partner, Dana Scully, the "consummate scientist" and skeptic. Addressing questions of trust and authority that plague our information-addled society, the series acquired a large fan base of individuals interested in debating and interpreting the philosophical themes that underlie the symbiotic partnership between Mulder and Scully. The Philosophy of The X-Files concentrates not only on the philosophical assumptions and presuppositions of the show but also on how the episodes portray the process of philosophical inquiry. Editor Dean A. Kowalski argues that both philosophy and The X-Files center around a determination to search for truth despite a frequent lack of information and proper tools. It is no surprise, then, to find the series riddled with common philosophical themes, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics, and existentialism, among others. The first section of the book addresses the credos put forth by the series and examines the philosophical significance of its three popular slogans: "The truth is out there," "Trust no one," and "I want to believe." In the second section, contributors analyze the philosophical underpinnings of the characters of Mulder, Scully, the Cigarette Smoking Man, and Assistant Director Walter Skinner. A final section is devoted to individual episodes and engages with the philosophical issues raised by "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" and "Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space,'" in addition to the 1998 film The X-Files: Fight the Future. Two appendixes offer a summary of the main storyline and brief plot summaries of each television episode together with the philosophical issues it raises. The first collection of philosophical essays devoted exclusively to the show, The Philosophy of The X-Files shows a television series successfully engaged with the philosophical quandaries of the modern world and explores how Mulder and Scully's personalities and actions invite inquiry into patterns of human belief and behavior.

Editorial Reviews

Review

""The Philosophy of The X-Files will be a hit with X-philes and fans of philosophy alike. It might even turn some X-philes into philosophy fans." --Christopher B. Blakley, Louisiana State University" --

""Kowalski and his contributors have put together a great book that discusses central issues in Epistemology, Metaphysics, all against the backdrop of The X-Files." --Roger P. Ebertz, University of Dubuque" --

""The Philosophy of the X-Files... analyzes the underlying philosophy of the popular science fiction television series." --Ripon Magazine" --

""Conard's collection is particularly welcome because the contributors have but one task: to consider what precisely lies beneath the polished surface of the Coens' films, and to deconstruct the bleak vision the films consistently embrace. Elegant and engaging, this is a key resource on the Coens' films." --G.A. Foster, Choice" --

About the Author

Dean A. Kowalski, assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha, is the author of Classic Questions and Contemporary Film: An Introduction to Philosophy

Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky (September 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813124549
• ISBN-13: 978-0813124544
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth is in Here, March 13, 2008

By 

wb (Roswell, New Mexico) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Philosophy of The X-Files (The Philosophy of Popular Culture) (Hardcover)

I'm a completely unabashed X-files fan. My wife and I lived without TV for 12 years and never viewed an episode until we purchased 9 years worth of DVD boxed sets here on amazon and watched them all over a single winter.
I am also an unabashed fan of the "Philosophy of the X-files." The concepts, theories and inner angst of Mulder and Scully demanded a philosophical examination directed to present day society and this collection of thought provoking essay's edited by Dean A. Kowalski, who was also a major contributor, does an excellent job.
I have added this book to my collection of X-files reference books and if you'd like to delve beneath the surface of the unique way the X-files views the world around us i recommend this book.
wb

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The psychology behind "The X Files", November 13, 2010

By 

ATREYU - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Philosophy of The X-Files (The Philosophy of Popular Culture) (Paperback)

It is not just about the philosophy of "The X Files", also the book analyzes the psychology behind "Mulder", "Scully", "The Smoking Cigarrette Man" and so on.

3 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars escelente, August 5, 2009

By 

Maria A. Villa Avalos "oaxacan girl" (Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Philosophy of The X-Files (The Philosophy of Popular Culture) (Paperback)

La filosofía a veces es difìcil de entender en todas sus corrientes. Al aplicarla para el análisis de autores de libros, series de televisión conocidas o exitosas hace mas fácil entender las distintas corrientes. Este libro en particular está fácil de leer, y el hecho de que se aplique concretamente a esta serie exitosa de televisión, la cual sierve como ejemplo aplicado de filosofía, hace mas fàcil su comprensión para aquel estudiante de filosofía.