The Witcher and Philosophy
Toss a Coin to Your Philosopher
1st Edition
Published on 31. October 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-394-16873-6 (ISBN)
Description
Embark on a revealing philosophical journey through the universe of The Witcher
"If I'm to choose between one evil and another, I'd rather not choose at all," growls the mutant "witcher," Geralt of Rivia. Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher books lay bare the adventures of monster hunters like Geralt, who seek to avoid humanity's conflicts and live only for the next kill and the coin that comes with it. But Geralt's destiny is complicated by his relationship with a powerful sorceress, Yennefer of Vengerberg. When he connects with a displaced princess, Ciri, Geralt lands right in the middle of the political conflicts of the Continent, which is endangered by Nilfgaard, a domineering southern kingdom that threatens to conquer the world.
Part of the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, The Witcher and Philosophy brings on twenty-seven philosophers to test their mettle against werewolves, the bruxa, strigas, vodyanoi, and kikimora; their work addresses the phenomenally popular books, three standalone Witcher video games, and the hit Netflix streaming show. These authors pass on their fascination with all manner of horror and sorcery: the mutations that make Geralt and others witchers, the commonalities between the Continent and post-apocalyptic settings, the intricacies of political power and scandal in the world of The Witcher, and reflections of our own world's changing views on race and gender that might offer hope-or portend a grim future.
Engaging and accessible, The Witcher and Philosophy considers key themes and questions such as:
Who is human, and who is a monster?
Can Geralt afford to stay neutral?
What kind of politics do sorceresses engage in?
How many universes converge on the Continent?
If we stare long enough into the abyss, does it stare back into us?
Silver or steel?
"Destiny is just the embodiment of the soul's desire to grow," says Jaskier the bard, proving himself to be a natural philosopher. The tales of The Witcher remind us that our lives are a play written by both choice and destiny. And it is your destiny to read and be inspired by The Witcher and Philosophy.
"If I'm to choose between one evil and another, I'd rather not choose at all," growls the mutant "witcher," Geralt of Rivia. Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher books lay bare the adventures of monster hunters like Geralt, who seek to avoid humanity's conflicts and live only for the next kill and the coin that comes with it. But Geralt's destiny is complicated by his relationship with a powerful sorceress, Yennefer of Vengerberg. When he connects with a displaced princess, Ciri, Geralt lands right in the middle of the political conflicts of the Continent, which is endangered by Nilfgaard, a domineering southern kingdom that threatens to conquer the world.
Part of the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, The Witcher and Philosophy brings on twenty-seven philosophers to test their mettle against werewolves, the bruxa, strigas, vodyanoi, and kikimora; their work addresses the phenomenally popular books, three standalone Witcher video games, and the hit Netflix streaming show. These authors pass on their fascination with all manner of horror and sorcery: the mutations that make Geralt and others witchers, the commonalities between the Continent and post-apocalyptic settings, the intricacies of political power and scandal in the world of The Witcher, and reflections of our own world's changing views on race and gender that might offer hope-or portend a grim future.
Engaging and accessible, The Witcher and Philosophy considers key themes and questions such as:
Who is human, and who is a monster?
Can Geralt afford to stay neutral?
What kind of politics do sorceresses engage in?
How many universes converge on the Continent?
If we stare long enough into the abyss, does it stare back into us?
Silver or steel?
"Destiny is just the embodiment of the soul's desire to grow," says Jaskier the bard, proving himself to be a natural philosopher. The tales of The Witcher remind us that our lives are a play written by both choice and destiny. And it is your destiny to read and be inspired by The Witcher and Philosophy.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 150 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
328 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-394-16873-6 (9781394168736)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2024
1st Edition
Wiley-Blackwell
€14.99
Available for download
E-Book
09/2024
1st Edition
Wiley-Blackwell
€14.99
Available for download
Persons
MATTHEW BRAKE is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Northern Virginia Community College in Manassas, Virginia. He is a contributor to the Wonder Woman and Philosophy and Doctor Strange and Philosophy volumes. He is also the series editor of the Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture series from Fortress Academic and the forthcoming Religion and Comics series from McFarland.
KEVIN S. DECKER is Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Washington University near Spokane, Washington. He is the editor of Dune and Philosophy and co-editor (with Jason T. Eberl) of Star Wars and Philosophy Strikes Back. He has edited or co-edited eleven other anthologies of popular culture and philosophy. He is the author of Who is Who? The Philosophy of Doctor Who.
KEVIN S. DECKER is Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Washington University near Spokane, Washington. He is the editor of Dune and Philosophy and co-editor (with Jason T. Eberl) of Star Wars and Philosophy Strikes Back. He has edited or co-edited eleven other anthologies of popular culture and philosophy. He is the author of Who is Who? The Philosophy of Doctor Who.
Content
Contributors viii
Introduction: Toss a Coin to Your Witcher . . . and Your Philosopher xiv
Matthew Brake
Ethics 1
1 A Friend of Humanity: On Mercenaries, Mutants, and Morals 3
Zachary Vereb
2 The Witcher's Dilemmas: Genuine or Apparent? 13
Walter Barta and Graham Lee
3 Lesser of Two Evils: Deliberation and the Witcher's Moral Dilemma 22
Corey R. Horn
4 Friendship in the Wild: Kant, the Witcher, and Curiosity 30
Cisil Vardar
Free Will and Existentialism 37
5 Destiny, Fate, and the Law of Surprise: Determinism, Free Will, and The Witcher 39
Graham Lee Copyrighted Material
6 Compatibilism and the Law of Surprise: Myth, Free Will, Destiny, and Hedgehogs 48
Shane J. Ralston
7 Silver or Steel?: Rethinking Rational Choice in an Irrational World 55
Erin Williams and Darian J. Shump
8 Nothing Is Ever Black and White: Existentialism in Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt 63
Tim Miechels
Feminism 71
9 "This Is the Version of Myself I Have to Be": Understanding Yennefer's Feminism(s) 73
Edwardo Perez
10 "They Took My Choice, I Want It Back": Infertility in The Witcher 84
Zoe L. Tongue
11 Ciri's Agency and Autonomy: Princess, Sorceress, and Witcher Girl 92
Emily Vega and Walter Barta
Race and Culture 101
12 Race and Racism in the World of The Witcher 103
Gerald Browning
13 Disadvantage, Demeaning, and Power: Is Geralt of Rivia Being Discriminated Against? 109
Wulf Loh
14 "I'm Part Elf, I'm Part Human": Understanding Racism in The Witcher 117
Edwardo Perez
Magic 127
15 Magic and the Elder Speech in The Witcher 129
Andriy Ivanchenko
16 Worlds within Words: Names and Naming in The Witcher 137
Fiona Tomkinson
17 Between Two Camps in the Swamps of Velen: Platonism and Naturalism in the Worlds of The Witcher 146
Steven Kammerer
18 "Witch Hunts Will Never Be About Witches": Scapegoating and Stereotypes of Persecution 156
Ryan Smock
Postmodernism 165
19 The Witcher as Postmodern Fairytale 167
Emily Vega and Walter Barta
20 Shocks of Destiny: The Witcher's Unlawful Surprise 177
Corry Shores
21 Post-Apocalyptic Prognostications in The Witcher 184
Matthew Crippen
Political Philosophy 195
22 King Foltest, John Locke, and Political Sovereignty in Temeria 197
John P. Irish
23 Stolen Mutagens and Frustrated Neutrality: Carl Schmitt and "the Political" in The Witcher 205
Florian R.R. van der Zee
24 Sometimes You Have to Pick Sides: Against Geralt's Neutrality 214
Matthew Brake
Monsters 223
25 Origin and Desires as Monster Makers in The Witcher 225
Julie Loveland Swanstrom and Victoria Lyle
26 The Witcher and the Monstrous Feminine 236
Yael Cameron
27 The Dialectics of Monstrosity 244
Paul Giladi
Index 253
Introduction: Toss a Coin to Your Witcher . . . and Your Philosopher xiv
Matthew Brake
Ethics 1
1 A Friend of Humanity: On Mercenaries, Mutants, and Morals 3
Zachary Vereb
2 The Witcher's Dilemmas: Genuine or Apparent? 13
Walter Barta and Graham Lee
3 Lesser of Two Evils: Deliberation and the Witcher's Moral Dilemma 22
Corey R. Horn
4 Friendship in the Wild: Kant, the Witcher, and Curiosity 30
Cisil Vardar
Free Will and Existentialism 37
5 Destiny, Fate, and the Law of Surprise: Determinism, Free Will, and The Witcher 39
Graham Lee Copyrighted Material
6 Compatibilism and the Law of Surprise: Myth, Free Will, Destiny, and Hedgehogs 48
Shane J. Ralston
7 Silver or Steel?: Rethinking Rational Choice in an Irrational World 55
Erin Williams and Darian J. Shump
8 Nothing Is Ever Black and White: Existentialism in Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt 63
Tim Miechels
Feminism 71
9 "This Is the Version of Myself I Have to Be": Understanding Yennefer's Feminism(s) 73
Edwardo Perez
10 "They Took My Choice, I Want It Back": Infertility in The Witcher 84
Zoe L. Tongue
11 Ciri's Agency and Autonomy: Princess, Sorceress, and Witcher Girl 92
Emily Vega and Walter Barta
Race and Culture 101
12 Race and Racism in the World of The Witcher 103
Gerald Browning
13 Disadvantage, Demeaning, and Power: Is Geralt of Rivia Being Discriminated Against? 109
Wulf Loh
14 "I'm Part Elf, I'm Part Human": Understanding Racism in The Witcher 117
Edwardo Perez
Magic 127
15 Magic and the Elder Speech in The Witcher 129
Andriy Ivanchenko
16 Worlds within Words: Names and Naming in The Witcher 137
Fiona Tomkinson
17 Between Two Camps in the Swamps of Velen: Platonism and Naturalism in the Worlds of The Witcher 146
Steven Kammerer
18 "Witch Hunts Will Never Be About Witches": Scapegoating and Stereotypes of Persecution 156
Ryan Smock
Postmodernism 165
19 The Witcher as Postmodern Fairytale 167
Emily Vega and Walter Barta
20 Shocks of Destiny: The Witcher's Unlawful Surprise 177
Corry Shores
21 Post-Apocalyptic Prognostications in The Witcher 184
Matthew Crippen
Political Philosophy 195
22 King Foltest, John Locke, and Political Sovereignty in Temeria 197
John P. Irish
23 Stolen Mutagens and Frustrated Neutrality: Carl Schmitt and "the Political" in The Witcher 205
Florian R.R. van der Zee
24 Sometimes You Have to Pick Sides: Against Geralt's Neutrality 214
Matthew Brake
Monsters 223
25 Origin and Desires as Monster Makers in The Witcher 225
Julie Loveland Swanstrom and Victoria Lyle
26 The Witcher and the Monstrous Feminine 236
Yael Cameron
27 The Dialectics of Monstrosity 244
Paul Giladi
Index 253