Game of Thrones and Philosophy Logic Cuts Deeper Than Swords

by Irwin, William; Jacoby, Henry

• ISBN13: 9781118161999
• ISBN10: 1118161998
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-03-13
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

An in-depth look at the philosophical issues behind HBOs Game of Thrones television series and the books that inspired it George R.R. Martins New York Times bestselling epic fantasy book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, and the HBO television show adapted from it, have earned critical acclaim and inspired fanatic devotion. This book delves into the many philosophical questions 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 protect your family and its secrets? In a fantasy universe with medieval mores and ethics, can female characters reflect modern feminist ideals? Timed for the premiere of the second season of the HBO Game of Thrones series Gives new perspectives on the characters, storylines, and themes of Game of Thrones Draws on great philosophers from ancient Greece to modern America to explore intriguing topics such as the strange creatures of Westeros, the incestuous relationship of Jaime and Cersei Lannister, and what the kings of Westeros can show us about virtue and honor (or the lack thereof) as they play their game of thrones Essential reading for fans, Game of Thrones and Philosophy will enrich your experience of your favorite medieval fantasy series.

Author Biography

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.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
A Raven From House Wiley: Editor's Note on Spoilers	p. xiii
Acknowledgments: How I Was Spared from Having to Take the Black	p. xv
Introduction: So What if Winter Is Coining?	p. 1
"You Win or You Die"
Maester Hobbes Goes to King's Landing	p. 5
It Is a Great Crime to Lie to a King	p. 19
Playing the Game of Thrones: Some Lessons from Machiavelli	p. 33
The War in Westeros and Just War Theory	p. 49
"The Things I Do For Love"
Winter Is Coming!: The Bleak Quest for Happiness in Westeros	p. 63
The Death of Lord Stark: The Perils of Idealism	p. 75
Lord Eddard Stark, Queen Cersei Lannister: Moral Judgments from Different Perspectives	p. 87
It Would Be a Mercy: Choosing Life or Death in Westeros and Beyond the Narrow Sea	p. 99
"Winter is Coming"
Wargs, Wights, and Wolves That Are Dire: Mind and Metaphysics, Westeros Style	p. 115
Magic, Science, and Metaphysics in A Game of Thrones	p. 129
"You Know Nothing, Jon Snow": Epistemic Humility Beyond the Wall	p. 142
"Why Is the World So Full of Injustice?": Gods and the Problem of Evil	p. 154
"The Man Who Passes the Sentence Should Swing the Sword"
Why Should Joffrey Be Moral If He Has Already Won the Game of Thrones?	p. 169
The Moral Luck of Tyrion Lannister	p. 183
Dany's Encounter with the Wild: Cultural Relativism in A Game of Thrones	p. 194
"There Are No True Knights": The Injustice of Chivalry	p. 205
"Stick them with the Pointy End"
Fate, Freedom, and Authenticity in A Game of Thrones	p. 223
No One Dances the Water Dance	p. 236
The Things I Do For Love: Sex, Lies, and Game Theory	p. 250
Stop the Madness!: Knowledge, Power, and Insanity in A Song of Ice and Fire	p. 264
Contributors: The Learned Lords and Ladies from beyond the Seven Kingdoms	p. 279
Index: From the Archives at Oldtown	p. 287
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