The Wheel of Time and Philosophy
Description
Delve through a unique exploration of the philosophy underlying The Wheel of Time
"The Wheel of Time turns, and ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten..." Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time is a story of mythic proportions, following Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, as he marches toward Tarmon Gai'don, the last battle between the forces of good and evil. Male and Female 'channelers' wield complementary halves of the one power, some for good, others in service to the Dark One. But in a world of polar opposites, there is ambiguity. Rand, alongside his comrades, must navigate a complex world where anybody may be a Darkfriend and even dreams may be lethal, all while learning to become the heroes of legend they thought only existed in gleeman's tales.
Drawing from both the beloved book series and the Amazon Prime adaptation, 18 scholars and fans provide readers with a deeper understanding of the ideas woven throughout the rich world of The Wheel of Time. Covering wide ranging themes from magic rooted in biological sex and the meaning of gender to Wolf-brothers and humanity's connection to the animal world, from slavery and servitude to pacifism and polyamory, these authors tackle issues paramount to understanding the human condition. Substantial yet accessible chapters address philosophical questions including:
- Could there be a world without evil?
- Who is the author of a work?
- Should we prefer existence to nothingness?
- Does fate determine our future, and does it matter?
- When, if ever, is war justified?
Featuring contributions from scholars with expertise in philosophy, literature, and media studies, The Wheel of Time and Philosophy: A Portion of Wisdom is ideal a must-read for fans, philosophy students and scholars alike who wish to explore the deeper intellectual currents running through The Wheel of Time.
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JACOB M. HELD is Professor of Philosophy and Assistant Provost for Academic Assessment and General Education at the University of Central Arkansas. His work primarily explores the intersection of philosophy and popular culture. He has edited several volumes, including Wonder Woman and Philosophy, Stephen King and Philosophy, and Dr. Seuss and Philosophy.
Content
List of Contributors vii
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction: "A Part of What We Know" xii
Stories Have Power 1
1 Tolkien's Influence and the World of The Wheel of Time 3
Michel- Antoine Xhignesse
2 The Wheel of Time and Authorship: The French Connection 17
Roderick Cooke
3 "We Call Ourselves Gleeman Because a Silly Name Makes Us Less Frightening:" Artists, Marginality, and Epistemic Privilege 27
Traci Phillipson
Alive, Gloriously Alive, Today 35
4 The Anti- Natalist and the Aes Sedai: Should Rand al'Thor Save the World? 37
Kenneth R. Pike Copyrighted Material
5 Nietzsche's Test of Time: The Wheel as an Existential Imperative 47
Steven Michels
6 A World Without Shai'tan: The Significance of Free Will in The Wheel of Time 55
Kenneth Silver
7 Revelations from Rhuidean: Messianism and Philosophy of History in The Wheel of Time 65
Andrew D. Thrasher
The Web Can Be Woven Many Ways 73
8 The (Re)Birth of Sovereignty in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time 75
Jeremy Christensen and Eric Holmes
9 Eyes Without Pity "... To Have Grown Up Thinking You Were a Person ..." 85
Tim Jones
10 Glimpsing the Pattern and Salvaging a Semblance of Choice 95
Dean A. Kowalski
11 Their Choice to Make: Rand's Vision of Free Will and Evil 107
Jacob M. Held
One Rule, Above All Others ... 117
12 Kantian Commentary on the Three Oaths: "It Just May Not Be the Truth You Think You'll Hear" 119
Dean A. Kowalski
13 On the Supposed Right to Slay Dragons Because of Philanthropic Concerns: The Mysterious Ethics of the Aes Sedai 131
Steve Bein
14 Asha'man, Kill On "Making Weapons" and the Ethics of War 141
Tobias T. Gibson
15 The Way of the Leaf: Pacifism in the Third Age 149
Jacob M. Held
Humankind Is Made for Uncertainty 161
16 Un/Common Bonds: Ethics and Polyamory in The Wheel of Time 163
Benjamin B. DeVan
17 Fear of the Beast Within: Perrin, Hopper, and Human- Animal Relationships 175
Maja Griem
18 Gendered Souls and Bodies: Hylomorphism and the Saidin/Saidar Distinction 181
Julie Loveland Swanstrom and Caitlynn Fletcher
Epilogue: A Portion of Courage 191
Index of Terms and Names 199
