Arp - The Devil and Philosophy: The Nature of His Game

Lucifer is everywhere! From Dungeon Keeper to World of Warcraft, he plays you like a pawn. He whispers to you through The Rolling Stones and KISS. Should we listen to his words or shut our ears? Is he misunderstood and deserving of our sympathy or does he just want to watch the world burn? The Devil is in the details and thankfully we have Plato, Kant, and Robert Arp to help us work them out.

WAYNE YUEN, editor of The Walking Dead and Philosophy: Zombie Apocalypse Now

Have you ever wondered why Satan is an asshole? Why metal about the Devil is awesome? How to get demonically re-possessed? The devilish details of the Joker, Loki, Luke Skywalker, Keanu Reeves, and others? Get the answers to these burning questions and more. Six out of nine demons give The Devil and Philosophy two enthusiastic horns up.

BENJAMIN MCCRAW, University of South Carolina Upstate

The Devil and Philosophy is a Hell of a book for those curious about the nature of the Dark One. You dont even have to sell a little bit of your soul to indulge yourself in these fascinating chapters, covering everything from Satans epistemic privileges to the devils in the details of C.S. Lewis and Star Wars.

RONDA BOWEN, consulting exorcist in private practice

Buying The Satanic Bible was a rite of passage in the small town where I grew up, The Devil and Philosophy will soon join its ranks. With a mixture of music, movies, theology, literature, one or two exorcisms, and even the Joker, his royal wickedness has never been so well-examined. It will have you singing, Unlock the door, let the Devil in!

COURTLAND LEWIS, co-editor of Doctor Who and Philosophy: Bigger on the Inside

Just who is the Devil? How do we know him? Whats his story? Can he truly be responsible for the terrible things that we so often do to each other? These are just some of the questions tackled by the infernal experts responsible for The Devil and Philosophy. With clarity, poise, and a welcome dose of humor these authors take on some of the most perplexing philosophical questions concerning the Prince of Darkness himself.

DAN BURKETT, Rice University

Whether you view the Devil as real or as a metaphor to inform our lives, The Devil and Philosophy helps us frame the balance of good and evil from both a personal and a universal perspective. Written in an accessible and often devilishly playful manner, these well-written chapters employ the Devil as a focus for reflecting on issues such as the soul, knowledge, suffering, and, of course, the Devils Adversary.

JACK BOWEN, author of If You Can Read This: The Philosophy of Bumper Stickers

Whether examining facets of history, popular culture, or religion, The Devil and Philosophy explains the fall and rise of the Devil with an irreverence true to this enigmatic subject. Dissected over centuries, the multi-disciplinary Fiend who emerges from this book dances both provocatively and profoundlyand we cant help but watch.

NANCY KANG, University of Baltimore

Humans have an undeniable fascination for the Dark Side. Whether you believe that the Devil is real or not, youll find much food for reflection in these wide-ranging, diverse, and often irreverent chapters.

GREGORY BASSHAM, author of Original Intent and the Constitution

The Devil and
Philosophy

Popular Culture and Philosophy Series Editor: George A. Reisch

VOLUME 1Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book about Everything and Nothing (2000)

VOLUME 2The Simpsons and Philosophy: The Doh! of Homer (2001)

VOLUME 3The Matrix and Philosophy: Welcome to the Desert of the Real (2002)

VOLUME 4Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale (2003)

VOLUME 5The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy: One Book to Rule Them All (2003)

VOLUME 9Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts (2004)

VOLUME 12Star Wars and Philosophy: More Powerful than You Can Possibly Imagine (2005)

VOLUME 13Superheroes and Philosophy: Truth, Justice, and the Socratic Way (2005)

VOLUME 19Monty Python and Philosophy: Nudge Nudge, Think Think! (2006)

VOLUME 25The Beatles and Philosophy: Nothing You Can Think that Cant Be Thunk (2006)

VOLUME 30Pink Floyd and Philosophy: Careful with that Axiom, Eugene! (2007)

VOLUME 33Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Mission Accomplished or Mission Frakked Up? (2008)

VOLUME 35Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant (2008)

VOLUME 36The Legend of Zelda and Philosophy: I Link Therefore I Am (2008)

VOLUME 38Radiohead and Philosophy: Fitter Happier More Deductive (2009)

VOLUME 39Jimmy Buffett and Philosophy: The Porpoise Driven Life (2009) Edited by Erin McKenna and Scott L. Pratt

VOLUME 41Stephen Colbert and Philosophy: I Am Philosophy (And So Can You!) (2009) Edited by Aaron Allen Schiller

VOLUME 42Supervillains and Philosophy: Sometimes, Evil Is Its Own Reward (2009) Edited by Ben Dyer

VOLUME 43The Golden Compass and Philosophy: God Bites the Dust (2009) Edited by Richard Greene and Rachel Robison

VOLUME 44Led Zeppelin and Philosophy: All Will Be Revealed (2009) Edited by Scott Calef

VOLUME 45World of Warcraft and Philosophy: Wrath of the Philosopher King (2009) Edited by Luke Cuddy and John Nordlinger

Volume 46Mr. Monk and Philosophy: The Curious Case of the Defective Detective (2010) Edited by D.E. Wittkower

Volume 47Anime and Philosophy: Wide Eyed Wonder (2010) Edited by Josef Steiff and Tristan D. Tamplin

VOLUME 48The Red Sox and Philosophy: Green Monster Meditations (2010) Edited by Michael Macomber

VOLUME 49Zombies, Vampires, and Philosophy: New Life for the Undead (2010) Edited by Richard Greene and K. Silem Mohammad

VOLUME 50Facebook and Philosophy: Whats on Your Mind? (2010) Edited by D.E. Wittkower

VOLUME 51Soccer and Philosophy: Beautiful Thoughts on the Beautiful Game (2010) Edited by Ted Richards

VOLUME 52Manga and Philosophy: Fullmetal Metaphysician (2010) Edited by Josef Steiff and Adam Barkman

VOLUME 53Martial Arts and Philosophy: Beating and Nothingness (2010) Edited by Graham Priest and Damon Young

VOLUME 54The Onion and Philosophy: Fake News Story True, Alleges Indignant Area Professor (2010) Edited by Sharon M. Kaye

VOLUME 55Doctor Who and Philosophy: Bigger on the Inside (2010) Edited by Courtland Lewis and Paula Smithka

VOLUME 56Dune and Philosophy: Weirding Way of the Mentat (2011) Edited by Jeffery Nicholas

VOLUME 57Rush and Philosophy: Heart and Mind United (2011) Edited by Jim Berti and Durrell Bowman

VOLUME 58Dexter and Philosophy: Mind over Spatter (2011) Edited by Richard Greene, George A. Reisch, and Rachel Robison-Greene

VOLUME 59Halo and Philosophy: Intellect Evolved (2011) Edited by Luke Cuddy

VOLUME 60SpongeBob SquarePants and Philosophy: Soaking Up Secrets Under the Sea! (2011) Edited by Joseph J. Foy

VOLUME 61Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy: The Footprints of a Gigantic Mind (2011) Edited by Josef Steiff

VOLUME 62Inception and Philosophy: Ideas to Die For (2011) Edited by Thorsten Botz-Bornstein

VOLUME 63Philip K. Dick and Philosophy: Do Androids Have Kindred Spirits?