A lighthearted meditation on the philosophical quandaries of the
hit television show The Big Bang Theory
Ever wonder what Aristotle might say about the life Sheldon
Cooper leads? Why Thomas Hobbes would applaud the roommate
agreement? Who Immanuel Kant would treat with ’haughty derision’
for weaving ’un-unravelable webs?’ And–most
importantly–whether Wil Wheaton is truly evil? Of
course you have. Bazinga!
This book mines the deep thinking of some of history’s most
potent philosophical minds to explore your most pressing questions
about The Big Bang Theory and its nerdy genius characters.
You might find other philosophy books on science and cosmology, but
only this one refers to Darth Vader Force-chokes, cloning Leonard
Nimoy, and oompa-loompa-like engineers. Fo-shizzle.
* Gives you irresistibly geek-worthy insights on your favorite
Big Bang Theory characters, story lines, and ideas
* Examines important themes involving ethics and virtue, science,
semiotics, religion, and the human condition
* Brings the thinking of some of the world’s greatest
philosophers to bear on The Big Bang Theory, from Aristotle
and Plato to Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Simone de Beauvoir, and
more
Essential reading for every Big Bang Theory fan, this
book explores whether comic-book-wielding geeks can lead the good
life, and whether they can know enough science to ’tear the mask
off nature and stare at the face of God.’
Innehållsförteckning
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: ’Unraveling the Mysteries’ 1
Part One ’It All Began On A Warm Summer’s Evening In Greece’: Aristotelian Insights
1 Aristotle on Sheldon Cooper: Ancient Greek Meets Modern Geek 7
Greg Littmann
2 ’You’re a Sucky, Sucky Friend’: Seeking Aristotelian Friendship in The Big Bang Theory 21
Dean A. Kowalski
3 The Big Bang Theory on the Use and Abuse of Modern Technology 35
Kenneth Wayne Sayles III
Part Two ’Is It Wrong To Say I Love Our Killer Robot?’: Ethics And Virtue
4 Feeling Bad about Feeling Good: Is It Morally Wrong to Laugh at Sheldon? 51
W. Scott Clifton
5 . . . But Is Wil Wheaton Evil? 65
Donna Marie Smith
6 Do We Need a Roommate Agreement?: Pleasure, Selfishness, and Virtue in The Big Bang Theory 80
Gregory L. Bock and Jeffrey L. Bock
Part Three ’Perhaps You Mean A Different Thing Than I Do When You Say ’Science”: Science, Scientism, And Religion
7 Getting Fundamental about Doing Physics in The Big Bang Theory 99
Jonathan Lawhead
8 Sheldon, Leonard, and Leslie: The Three Faces of Quantum Gravity 112
Andrew Zimmerman Jones
9 The One Paradigm to Rule Them All: Scientism and The Big Bang Theory 128
Massimo Pigliucci
10 Cooper Considerations: Science, Religion, and Family 144
Adam Barkman and Dean A. Kowalski
Part Four ’I Need Your Opinion On A Matter Of Semiotics’: Language And Meaning
11 Wittgenstein and Language Games in The Big Bang Theory 161
Janelle Pötzsch
12 ’I’m Afraid You Couldn’t Be More Wrong!’: Sheldon and Being Right about Being Wrong 175
Adolfas Mackonis
13 The Cooper Conundrum: Good Lord, Who’s Tolerating Whom? 189
Ruth E. Lowe
14 The Mendacity Bifurcation 203
Don Fallis
Part Five ’The Human Experience That Has Always Eluded Me’: The Human Condition
15 Mothers and Sons of The Big Bang Theory 219
Ashley Barkman
16 Penny, Sheldon, and Personal Growth through Difference 233
Nicholas G. Evans
17 Deconstructing the Women of The Big Bang Theory: So Much More Than Girlfriends 244
Mark D. White and Maryanne L. Fisher
The Episode Compendium: ’Hey, It’s a Big Menu–There’s Two Pages Just for Desserts’ 257
Contributors:’But If We Were Part of the Team . . . We Could Drink for Free in Any Bar in Any College Town’ 261
Index: ’Cornucopia . . . Let’s Make That Our Word of the Day’ 267
Om författaren
Dean A. Kowalski is an associate professor of philosophy at University of Wisconsin-Waukesha and the author of five books, most recently Moral Theory at the Movies and The Philosophy of Joss Whedon.
William Irwin is a professor of philosophy at King’s College, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 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, Batman and Philosophy, and Inception and Philosophy.
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