The Hunger Games and Philosophy: A Critique of Pure Treason [Paperback]

George A. Dunn (Editor), Nicolas Michaud (Editor), William Irwin (Series Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2012

A philosophical exploration of Suzanne Collins's New York Times bestselling series, just in time for the release of The Hunger Games movie

Katniss Everdeen is "the girl who was on fire," but she is also the girl who made us think, dream, question authority, and rebel. The post-apocalyptic world of Panem's twelve districts is a divided society on the brink of war and struggling to survive, while the Capitol lives in the lap of luxury and pure contentment. At every turn in the Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss, Peeta, Gale, and their many allies wrestle with harrowing choices and ethical dilemmas that push them to the brink. Is it okay for Katniss to break the law to ensure her family's survival? Do ordinary moral rules apply in the Arena? Can the world of The Hunger Games shine a light into the dark corners of our world? Why do we often enjoy watching others suffer? How can we distinguish between what's Real and Not Real? This book draws on some of history's most engaging philosophical thinkers to take you deeper into the story and its themes, such as sacrifice, altruism, moral choice, and gender.

• Gives you new insights into the Hunger Games series and its key characters, plot lines, and ideas
• Examines important themes such as the state of nature, war, celebrity, authenticity, and social class
• Applies the perspective of some of world's greatest minds, such as Charles Darwin, Thomas Hobbes, Friedrich Nietzsche, Plato, and Immanuel Kant to the Hunger Games trilogy
• Covers all three books in the Hunger Games trilogy

An essential companion for Hunger Games fans, this book will take you deeper into the dystopic world of Panem and into the minds and motivations of those who occupy it.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Can entertainment be dangerous?

Do ordinary moral rules apply in the arena?

Can philosophy help Katniss decide between Gale and Peeta?

Could muttations someday become a reality?

Can the world of the Hunger Games shine a light into the dark corners of our own world? Katniss Everdeen is "the girl who was on fire," but she is also the girl who makes us think, dream, question authority, and rebel. The postapocalyptic world of Panem's twelve districts is a divided society on the brink of war and struggling to survive, while the Capitol lives in the lap of luxury and pure contentment. At every turn in the Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss, Peeta, Gale, and their many allies wrestle with harrowing choices and ethical dilemmas that push them to the brink. This thoughtful guide draws on the work of Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Charles Darwin, and other engaging philosophical thinkers to take you deeper into the story. It gives you new insights into the Hunger Games series and its key characters, plot lines, and themes, including war, authenticity, social class, personal identity, altruism, gender, art, fashion, and moral choice.

To learn more about the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, visit www.andphilosophy.com

About the Author

George A. Dunn is a lecturer at the University of Indianapolis and the Ningbo Institute of Technology, Zhejiang University, China. He edited True Blood and Philosophy and contributed to Twilight and Philosophy, Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy, and Mad Men and Philosophy.

Nicolas Michaud is an instructor of philosophy at the University of North Florida and has contributed to Twilight and Philosophy, Final Fantasy and Philosophy, 30 Rock and Philosophy, and Green Lantern and Philosophy.

William Irwin is a 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 House and Philosophy, Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy, and Mad Men and Philosophy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (February 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1118065077
• ISBN-13: 978-1118065075
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.8 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > History & Criticism

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Do you find yourself with THE HUNGER for philosophy? Then let the ESSAYS begin! February 26, 2012

By John V. Karavitis

Format:Paperback

The release of this latest entry in Wiley-Blackwell's "Philosophy and Popular Culture" series is timed to slightly precede (by about a month) the theatrical release of the movie based on Suzanne Collins' trilogy "The Hunger Games". Per an alleged movie review on IMDB, the movie is spectacular and does justice to the trilogy. In likewise fashion, so does this collection of essays. Wiley-Blackwell stays true to its formula of covering a wide number of philosophical themes with well-written and readable essays. The book exhibits the typical attention to detail and structure that I have come to expect of entries in this series. In the "Notes" section at the end of each essay, the reader will typically be directed to other essays within the collection that develop specific issues in greater detail. Having never read the Hunger Games trilogy, I was somewhat apprehensive about whether I would be able to follow the discussions well enough to appreciate the attention given to the philosophical themes. Rest assured, the essays are so well-written that this is not an issue. In fact, readers coming to this collection of essays with no foreknowledge of the trilogy will come away feeling as though they had read it, even lived through it. Those who have read the trilogy, and even those who will only see the movie, will enjoy this book immensely.

This collection of nineteen essays is divided into seven sections, with the following topics: (1) art, music, and metaphor; (2) morality; (3) science; (4) the ethics of caring and gender; (5) authenticity and identity; (6) warfare; and (7) political philosophy. Overall, the essays were well-written, even interesting, and definitely enlightening. The best of these essays either demonstrated parallels in the development of philosophical ideas with the character development of the protagonists through the course of the trilogy, or found sharp contrasts between the behaviors of the protagonists and antagonists and developed philosophical themes accordingly.

A few essays, however, did miss the mark.

(1)Andrew Shaffer's "The Joy of Watching Others Suffer: Schadenfreude and the Hunger Games" felt more like social commentary and a simple re-hash of the storyline. It felt a bit "all over the place".

(2)Jason T. Eberl's "No Mutt Is Good - Really? Creating Interspecies Chimeras" takes a look at the ethics of creating hybrids and chimeras. Unfortunately, it was mere social commentary on the potential dangers of this science, and did not explore and develop any philosophical themes. Given the pervasive use of such creatures by the Capitol, it's unfortunate that this theme was not done justice.

(3)Louis Melancon's "Starting Fires Can Get You Burned: The Just-War Tradition and the Rebellion against the Capitol" looked at when a war could be considered a "just" war. An excellent essay, but it read like a textbook entry, and no philosophers. Hugo Grotius, Hugo Grotius! Paging Hugo Grotius!

(4)Andrew Zimmerman Jones' "The Tribute's Dilemma: The Hunger Games and Game Theory" was an excellent essay, but it too read more like a textbook entry. The online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy mentions Plato and Hobbes in their entry on "game theory" (hint hint). In addition, I feel that this essay should have been in Part (3) and not Part (6).

Don't get me wrong. The themes that these essays identified were relevant. It's just that I feel that more could have been done to do the chosen themes justice.

A few essays were very good.

(1)Brian McDonald's "The Final Word on Entertainment: Mimetic and Monstrous Art in the Hunger Games" looked at the use of art as an instrument of social and political control. Mr. McDonald invoked Aristotle's "Poetics" and Phillip Rieff's ideas on art as "de-creation", and contrasted the use of art by those in the Districts and those in the Capitol. It is an enlightening essay.

(2)Jill Olthouse's "I Will Be Your Mockingjay: The Power and Paradox of Metaphor in the Hunger Games Trilogy" applied hermeneutics (the study of the interpretation of texts) and demonstrated how the use of metaphor in the trilogy conveys paradox and complexity. A very interesting essay, albeit one that did not invoke a single philosopher. (And she got away with it!)

(3)Lindsey Issow Averill's "Sometimes the World Is Hungry for People Who Care: Katniss and the Feminist Care Ethic" was truly spectacular. Ms. Averill looked at the development of ethical thought from equating "moral reasoning with impartial or objective thinking" (Kantian impartiality) to feminist care ethics (Carol Gilligan).

(4)Joseph F. Foy's "Safe to Do What: Morality and the War of All Against All in the Arena" was another excellent essay. Mr. Foy looks at morality and war, and goes from Hobbes (survival at all costs) to Kant (morality imposes obligations on us). Again, what makes this an excellent essay is how the author parallels the development of philosophical ideas with how a protagonist (in this case Katniss) develops through the course of the trilogy. In her views on one's conduct in warfare, Katniss goes from a Hobbesian outlook to a Kantian outlook.

This is a fine collection of essays. Hunger satisfied. Five stars. John V. Karavitis

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the Games: Let the Analysis Begin! April 8, 2012

By C. S. Hammond

Format:Paperback

During the course of my research for a paper on the Hunger Games, I found this book had a timely release. The essays it contains are well-written, clear, and utilize a philosophical approach to the novels. This book builds upon and deepens a foundation of research that was started with the anthology known as THE GIRL WHO WAS ON FIRE: Your Favorite Authors on Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games Trilogy. By collecting essays from a number of academes, this collection is able to delve deeper into much more than was covered in The Girl Who Was On Fire. Still, both books have their merits, but for academic research, The Hunger Games and Philosophy may have a greater academic reception. I particularly found myself drawn to essays contending the morality of the world of Hunger Games, the characters, and even the moral "rightness" of the nature of war. Questions of identity and even gender are explored -- both areas that I am largely concerned with for the purposes of my paper. Overall, a really great collection of essays that draws heavily upon many philosophers and theorists including Kant, Darwin, Einstein, Butler, and Hobbes (to name a few).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Expands the Series August 12, 2012

By Brandon

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The best quality of the pop culture and philosophy series is its ability to expand on the source material in a compelling way that makes every subsequent viewing more interesting and intellectually satisfying. This particular edition with the Hunger Games ranks among my favorite among my small collection (Watchmen, Final Fantasy, Matrix, Inception) and every essay is of high quality and is accessible, not overly and overtly, in some cases, enigmatic. I recommend this entertaining and enlightening book, but buy it used! Help conserve the planet you live on!