Supernatural and Philosophy Metaphysics and Monsters ... for Idjits

by Foresman, Galen A.; Irwin, William

• ISBN13: 9781118615959
• ISBN10: 1118615956
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-10-07
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

No doubt the years hunting monsters and saving the universe have had their toll on the Winchesters, but their toughest and most gruesome battles are contained in this book. Think Lucifer was diabolically clever? Think again. No son is more wayward than the one who squanders his intellect and academic career pursuing questions as poignant as “Half-awesome? That’s full-on good, right?” Gathered here for the first time since the formation of Purgatory, a collection of research so arcane and horrific that it would make even the late, great Bobby Singer blush.

Supernatural and Philosophy tackles all the big ideas in the long-running hit show Supernatural, covering thorny issues in a fun and accessible way. Even those unfamiliar with the show will find fascinating insights into Heaven, Hell, Angels, Demons, God, and Lucifer.

• A unique collection of insights into the many philosophical, religious, and paranormal topics in the hit TV show, Supernatural
• Accessible treatment of thorny issues for a general audience
• Written by philosophical fans of the show, for philosophical fans of the show
• Those unfamiliar with the show will still find fascinating insights into Heaven, Hell, Angels, Demons, God, Lucifer, and Good and Evil
• Contributors tackle issues ranging from the biological classifications of monsters, to the epistemological problems of ghost hunting

Author Biography

Galen A. Foresman is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where he teaches ethics and critical thinking.  He is the author of “Why Batman Is Better than Superman” in Batman and Philosophy (Wiley, 2008) and What’s Wrong with Camping in Halo and Philosophy (Open Court, 2011).

William Irwin is Professor of Philosophy at King’s College. 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 Superman and Philosophy, Black Sabbath and Philosophy, and Spider-Man and Philosophy.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction: Codename: GhostPhacers 1

Part One Of Monsters and Morals 5

1 Are Monsters Members of the Moral Community? 7
Nathan Stout

2 Aristotle’s Metaphysics of Monsters and Why We Love Supernatural 16
Galen A. Foresman and Francis Tobienne, Jr.

3 Hunters, Warriors, Monsters 26
Shannon B. Ford

4 Team Free Will: Something Worth Fighting For 37
Devon Fitzgerald Ralston and Carey F. Applegate

Part Two Life, Liberty, and the Apocalypse 47

5 What the Hell Is Going On? 49
Galen A. Foresman

6 Try Hell, It’s a Democracy and the Weather Is Warm 62
Dena Hurst

7 Hunting the American Dream: Why Marx Would Think It’s a Terrible Life 74
Jillian L. Canode

8 Mothers, Lovers, and Other Monsters: The Women of Supernatural 83
Patricia Brace

9 Night of the Living Dead Demons and a Life Worth Living 95
John Edgar Browning

Part Three Evil by Design 109

10 Dean Winchester and the Supernatural Problem of Evil 111
Daniel Haas

11 Angels and Atheists 125
Fredrick Curry

12 Oh God, You Devil 139
Danilo Chaib

Part Four It’s Supernatural 151

13 Naturally Supernatural 153
James Blackmon with Galen A. Foresman

14 Masculinity and Supernatural Love 169
Stacey Goguen

15 Naturalizing Supernatural 179
Joseph L. Graves, Jr.

Contributors: Bona Fide, Card Carrying Wisdom Lovers and GhostPhacers 189

Index 195