The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy: You Must Unlearn What You Have Learned - Paperback

by Jason T. Eberl (Editor), Kevin S. Decker (Editor), William Irwin (Editor)

Does it take faith to be a Jedi? Are droids capable of thought? Should Jar Jar Binks be held responsible for the rise of the Empire? Presenting entirely new essays, no aspect of the myth and magic of George Lucas's creation is left philosophically unexamined in The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy.

• The editors of the original Star Wars and Philosophy strike back in this Ultimate volume that encompasses the complete Star Wars universe
• Presents the most far-reaching examination of the philosophy behind Star Wars - includes coverage of the entire film catalogue to date as well as the Expanded Universe of novels, comics, television series, games and toys
• Provides serious explorations into the deeper meaning of George Lucas's philosophically rich creation
• Topics explored include the moral code of bounty-hunter favourite Boba Fett, Stoicism and the Jedi Order, the nature of the Dark Side, Anakin and Achilles in a nihilism face-off, feminism and being chained to a giant slug, cloning, de-extinction, fatherhood, Wookiees, loyalty, betrayal, guardians, republics, tyrants, terrorism, civic duty, friendship, family, and more!

Back Jacket

Is the Rebel Alliance a terrorist organization? What's it like to be a Jedi? Was it immoral to destroy the second Death Star? Should Jar Jar Binks be held responsible for the rise of the Empire? And how should we understand the new Star Wars?

The beloved epic space opera that fed the mythic landscape of a generation and arguably invented the modern concept of media franchise - clearly, much of the world has got Star Wars under its skin. The cultural significance of phrases like "Luke, I am your father," "I've got a bad feeling about this," and "Do or do not, there is no try" aren't merely pop culture clichés; they've penetrated academia with hundreds of scholarly articles and books examining the deeper meaning of George Lucas's fantastical and philosophically rich creation.

The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy presents an original set of expert essays by some of the brightest minds in the galaxy, exploring the deeper side of Star Wars and its Expanded Universe. There are new takes on familiar topics, like the nature of the Force - does it have to have a dark side? - and a feminist critique of the portrayal of women - what is the deeper meaning in being chained to a slug? We examine the philosophical significance behind the impact of Star Wars on the real world as an important artifact of pop culture, the legacy of Joseph Campbell on the saga's mythical foundation, and offer a framework for understanding just what is "canonical" in Star Wars - giving fans good reason to assert once and for all that Han shot first.

With the book you hold in your hands, the circle is now complete, and those who were once learners may start on the path toward becoming philosophical masters. May the Force be with you!

Author Biography

Jason T. Eberl is the Semler Endowed Chair for Medical Ethics and Professor of Philosophy at Marian University in Indianapolis, where he teaches bioethics, ethics, and medieval philosophy. He authored Thomistic Principles and Bioethics (2006), and is the editor of Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2008) and co-editor of Sons of Anarchy and Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2013).

Kevin S. Decker is Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Washington University, where he teaches ethics, American and Continental Philosophy, and philosophy of popular culture. He is the editor or co-editor of five previous books on pop culture including Terminator and Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009), Ender's Game and Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2013), The Ultimate South Park and Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2013) and Who is Who? The Philosophy of Doctor Who (2013).

Together, Eberl and Decker are the editors of Star Wars and Philosophy (2005).