No doubt Aristotle just rolled over in his grave. An essay called "Homer
and Aristotle" would appear to be a treatise on two ancient Greek thinkers;
in this case, it's a depiction of Homer Simpson's Aristotelian virtues.
Raja Halwani's "Homeric" essay is amusing, though, and moreover, it actually
ends up being enlightening, especially for those just learning Aristotle's
ethics. Bart may be a Nietzschean without knowing it; Mr. Burns is a cipher
for unhappiness (except when he eats "so-called iced-cream"); and Ned Flanders
raises questions about neighborly love. The Simpsons and Philosophy has a lot
to say about The Simpsons, and even more to say about philosophy. The book
collects 18 essays into an unpretentious, tongue-in-cheek, and surprisingly
intelligent look at philosophy through the lens of Matt Groening's vaunted
animated series. The editors are quick to point out that they don't think
The Simpsons "is the equivalent of history's best works of literature ...
but it nevertheless is just deep enough, and certainly funny enough, to
warrant serious attention." The writers of the book are mostly professional
philosophers, and they are appropriately erudite. But what is truly
astonishing, even for a confessed Simpsons addict, is their breadth of
Simpsons knowledge, spanning all 12 seasons of the show's history.
The Simpsons and Philosophy is obviously not intended to be a turning point
in modern thought, but it is an excellent introduction to some core elements
of philosophy.

Download File Size:1.24 MB

---