Game of Thrones and Philosophy
Logic Cuts Deeper Than Swords
Published on 8. February 2012
320 pages
978-1-118-20606-5 (ISBN)
Description
An in-depth look at the philosophical issues behind HBO'sGame of Thrones television series and the books thatinspired it
George R.R. Martin's New York Times bestselling epicfantasy book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, and the HBO televisionshow adapted from it, have earned critical acclaim and inspiredfanatic devotion. This book delves into the many philosophicalquestions that arise in this complex, character-driven series,including: Is it right for a "good" king to usurp the throne of a"bad" one and murder his family? How far should you go to protectyour family and its secrets? In a fantasy universe with medievalmores and ethics, can female characters reflect modern feministideals?
* Timed for the premiere of the second season of the HBO Gameof Thrones series
* Gives new perspectives on the characters, storylines, andthemes of Game of Thrones
* Draws on great philosophers from ancient Greece to modernAmerica to explore intriguing topics such as the strange creaturesof Westeros, the incestuous relationship of Jaime and CerseiLannister, and what the kings of Westeros can show us about virtueand honor (or the lack thereof) as they play their game ofthrones
Essential reading for fans, Game of Thrones andPhilosophy will enrich your experience of your favoritemedieval fantasy series.
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Book
03/2012
Wiley
€19.00
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Persons
HENRY JACOBY teaches philosophy at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. He is the editor of House and Philosophy and a contributor to South Park and Philosophy.
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 Inception and Philosophy, Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy, and Mad Men and Philosophy.
Content
Foreword
Acknowledgments: How I was spared from having to take theBlack
Introduction: So What if Winter Is Coming?
Part One. "You Win or You Die"
1. Maester Hobbes Goes to King's Landing
Greg Littmann
2. It is a Great Crime to Lie to a King
Don Fallis
3. Playing the Game of Thrones: Some Lessons fromMachiavelli
Marcus Schulzke
4. The War in Westeros and Just War Theory
Richard H. Corrigan
Part Two. "The Things I Do for Love"
5. Winter is Coming! The Bleak Quest for Happiness inWesteros
Eric Silverman
6. The Death of Lord Stark: The Perils of Idealism
David Hahn
7. Lord Eddard Stark, Queen Cersei Lannister: Moral Judgmentsfrom Different Perspectives
Albert J. J. Angleberger and Alexander Hieke
8. It Would Be a Mercy: Choosing Life or Death in Westeros andBeyond
Matthew Tedesco
Part Three. "Winter is Coming"
9. Wargs, Wights, and Wolves that are Dire: Mind andMetaphysics, Westeros Style
Henry Jacoby
10. Magic, Science, and Metaphysics in A Game of Thrones
Edward Cox
11. "You know nothing, Jon Snow": Epistemic HumilityBeyond the Wall
Abraham P. Schwab
12. "Why is the world so full of injustice?" Godsand the Problem of Evil
Jaron Daniel Schoone
Part Four. "The Man Who Passes the Sentence ShouldSwing the Sword"
13. Why Should Joffrey Be Moral If He's Already Won theGame of Thrones?
Daniel Haas
14. The Moral Luck of Tyrion Lannister
Christopher Robichaud
15. Dany's Encounter with the Wild: Cultural Relativism inGames of Thrones
Katherine Tullman
16. "There Are No True Knights": The Injustice oChivalry
Stacey Goguen
Part Five. "Stick Them with the PointyEnd"
17. Fate, Freedom, and authenticity in A Game of Thrones
Michael J. Sigrist
18. No One Dances the Water Dance
Henry Jacoby
19. The Things I Do For Love: Sex, Lies, and Game Theory
R. Shannon Duval
20. Stop the Madness! Knowledge, Power, and Insanity in A Songof Ice and Fire
Chad William Timm
Contributors: The Learned Lords and Ladies from Beyond theSeven Kingdoms
Index
