Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Knowledge Here Begins Out There (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series) (Paperback)

~ (Editor)
Key Phrases: resurrection ship, ray kurzweil, colonial one, New Caprica, New York, Caprica Six (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The contributors to Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy strive to make things relevant to fans of the show, and they put their information ou t in a way that is accessible to folks who wouldn't know Heidegger from Heineken.” (Green Man Review, Spring 2009)

"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)

Review

"This intriguing volume is the first of its kind to explore Battlestar Galactica, from Cyclons to Starbuck, with great breadth and depth. Assembling a stellar fleet of terrestrial talent, Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy is indispensable to both fans and those who want to explore philosophical and theological issues in an entertaining way." 
–Judith Barad, author of The Ethics of Star Trek, Indiana State University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell (January 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405178140
• ISBN-13: 978-1405178143
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,582 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #52 in

  Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Media Studies

• This item is part of The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Entry in the Series, May 21, 2008

By	Lost Hobbits (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating read and examination of themes in BSG, August 14, 2009

By	Pistol Pete "Pete" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

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.