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KISS is the most outrageous and yet the most enduring of rock
bands, with an unparalleled, almost religious level of devotion
from millions of die-hard fans. In KISS and Philosophy,
professional thinkers of diverse outlooks provide much-needed
insights into the motivating ideas and metaphysical foundations of
the KISS take on life. According to some, the true message of KISS
is self-actualization through the hard work of following your
dreams. Others focus on the existential aspect of KISS thinking,
drawing upon Camus and Sartre to show that KISS is preoccupied with
empowering the individual to achieve self-greatness. By contrast,
there is a view of KISS which identifies a "destroyer" attitude,
leading some listeners to reject KISS outright, while encouraging
others to become the most dedicated of followers. Yet another view
sees KISS's "letting loose" as essentially Dionysian. Some chapters
gain access to KISS thinking by tracing the band's cultural and
historical impact, finding meaning in the way generations of fans
make sense of KISS's always evolving output, the changing line-up,
and the archetypal characters represented by the band's use of
make-up and presentation. Other chapters look at the aesthetic
quality of the band's output, especially their most controversial
album, Music from "The Elder." Several chapters examine KISS's
orientation to bodily pleasures, notably sex, extracting the band's
philosophy of sex and love from different clues and indications.
How does KISS's unashamed indulgence relate to various
pleasure-governed ethical systems throughout history? Is getting
the most out of pleasure key to living the good life? And does a
life of gratifying one's body ultimately yield fulfillment? What
are the limitations and hazards of a pleasure-oriented lifestyle?
The biography of band members also provides material for
reflection, looking at the nature of forgiveness through the lens
of KISS's notorious feuds, and determining how to reconcile the
apparently conflicting accounts of some famous squabbles. The
changing line-up of the band raises questions about the meaning of
"KISS" and whether KISS could last forever
Red Rising and Philosophy has gathered together a crew of the
wisest Helldivers philosophy can offer. Could humanity's love of
physical enhancements cause its extinction? Do people doom humanity
by trying to all be the same? Can a person love someone, while at
the same time wanting that person destroyed? Is equality always the
best principle on which to organize society? What is evil, and how
does it exist in contemporary life? Does one remain the same
person, even after changing every physical aspect of one's body? Is
it moral to sell oneself into slavery, whether it's through sex or
manual labor? Is it ethical to sell one's children into slavery, on
the promise that their children will live in peace and tranquility?
These questions and more are what make Brown's Red Rising trilogy
such an impactful story. Brown pulls no punches, and philosophy
works best in such an environment. Red Rising and Philosophy is not
for the timid or the faint at heart. It's not The Passage, since no
one will die from reading it, but reading it could be a
life-changing experience.
In "Doctor Who and Philosophy," a team of mostly human philosophers
(who are also fans) looks at the deeper issues raised by the
Doctor's mind-blowing adventures. They discuss, among other topics,
the Doctor's philosophy of science, the ethics of a universe with
millions of intelligent species, what makes one life-form more
important than another, whether time travelers can change history,
and how the "Doctor Who" TV show is changing the world we live in.
The chapters draw freely on both the classic series (1963-1989) and
the new series. The book includes a collection of entertaining and
insightful quotes from "Doctor Who" plus a complete list of
episodes and companions.
Courtland Lewis has scoured the planet to bring together the most
talented faction members, factionless, and even a few from the
Bureau to discuss the philosophy of Divergent. Divergent and
Philosophy begins by examining the personal struggles that all
people face at some time: What sort of person should I be? What if
I find out my life is a lie? What do I owe my parents? Am I normal?
Once readers have finished answering these questions they're ready
for the "choosing ceremony." Part two examines each faction,
looking at its virtues, vices, and other features that will help
readers pick the "right" faction. This part gives readers a glimpse
into what it's like to be faced with the most important decision of
our lives, the one that will forever determine who we are. Part
three takes a step takes a step back, in order to question
Chicago's ordering of society. Chicago is on the verge of
revolution, but is this the result of the faction system itself, or
is it the people within the factions that are behind the social
discord? Part four shifts the focus individuals and those who hold
power. Part five tells us how to recognize injustice.
More Doctor Who and Philosophy is a completely new collection of
chapters, additional to Doctor Who and Philosophy (2010), by the
same editors. Since that first Doctor Who and Philosophy, much has
happened in the Whoniverse: a new and controversial regeneration of
the Doctor, multiple new companions, a few creepy new enemies of
both the Doctor and planet Earth. New questions have been raised
and new questioners have come along, so there are plenty of new
topics for philosophical scrutiny. Is the "impossible" girl really
impossible? Is there anything wrong with an inter-species lesbian
relationship (the kids weren't quite ready for that in 1963, but no
one blinks an eye in 2015)? Can it really be right for the Doctor
to lie and to selectively forget? We even have two authors who have
figured out how to build a TARDIS -- instructions included! An
added feature of this awesome new volume is that the editors have
reached out to insiders of Who fandom, people who run hugely
successful Who conventions, play in Who-inspired bands, and run
wildly popular podcasts and websites, to share their privileged
insights into why the Doctor is so philosophically deep.
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