Josef Steiff - Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy

Table of Contents

Popular Culture and Philosophy

Series Editor: George A. Reisch

VOLUME 1

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

VOLUME 2

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

VOLUME 3

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

VOLUME 4

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

VOLUME 5

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

VOLUME 9

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

VOLUME 12

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

VOLUME 13

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

VOLUME 17

Bob Dylan and Philosophy: Its Alright Ma (Im Only Thinking) (2006)

VOLUME 19

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

VOLUME 24

Bullshit and Philosophy: Guaranteed to Get Perfect Results Every Time (2006)

VOLUME 25

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

VOLUME 26

South Park and Philosophy: Bigger, Longer, and More Penetrating (2007)

VOLUME 28

The Grateful Dead and Philosophy: Getting High Minded about Love and Haight (2007)

VOLUME 29

Quentin Tarantino and Philosophy: How to Philosophize with a Pair of Pliers and a Blowtorch (2007)

VOLUME 30

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

VOLUME 31

Johnny Cash and Philosophy: The Burning Ring of Truth (2008)

VOLUME 32

Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy: Darkness on the Edge of Truth (2008)

VOLUME 33

Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Mission Accomplished or Mission Frakked Up? (2008) Edited by Josef Steiff and Tristan D. Tamplin

VOLUME 34

iPod and Philosophy: iCon of an ePoch (2008) Edited by D.E. Wittkower

VOLUME 35

Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant (2008) Edited by Jason T. Eberl and Kevin S. Decker

VOLUME 36

The Legend of Zelda and Philosophy: I Link Therefore I Am (2008) Edited by Luke Cuddy

VOLUME 37

The Wizard of Oz and Philosophy: Wicked Wisdom of the West (2008) Edited by Randall E. Auxier and Phillip S. Seng

VOLUME 38

Radiohead and Philosophy: Fitter Happier More Deductive (2009) Edited by Brandon Forbes and George A. Reisch

VOLUME 39

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

VOLUME 40

Transformers and Philosophy: More than Meets the Mind (2009) Edited by John R. Shook and Liz Stillwaggon Swan

VOLUME 41

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

VOLUME 42

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

VOLUME 43

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

VOLUME 44

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

VOLUME 45

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

VOLUME 46

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

VOLUME 47

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

VOLUME 48

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

VOLUME 49

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

VOLUME 50

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

VOLUME 51

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

VOLUME 52

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

VOLUME 53

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

VOLUME 54

The Onion and Philosophy: Fake News Story True, Alleges Indignant Area Professor (2011) Edited by Sharon M. Kaye

VOLUME 55

Doctor Who and Philosophy: Bigger on the Inside (2011) Edited by Courtland Lewis and Paula Smithka

VOLUME 56

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

VOLUME 57

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

VOLUME 58

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

VOLUME 59

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

VOLUME 60

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

VOLUME 61

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

VOLUME 62

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

VOLUME 63

Philip K. Dick and Philosophy: Do Androids Have Kindred Spirits? (2011) Edited by D.E. Wittkower

VOLUME 64

The Rolling Stones and Philosophy: Its Just a Thought Away (2012) Edited by Luke Dick and George A. Reisch

IN PREPARATION:

Breaking Bad and Philosophy (2012) Edited by David R. Koepsell and Robert Arp

Curb Your Enthusiasm and Philosophy (2012) Edited by Mark Ralkowski Dungeons and Dragons and Philosophy (2012) Edited by Jon Cogburn and Mark Silcox

Neil Gaiman and Philosophy (2012) Edited by Tracy L. Bealer, Rachel Luria, and Wayne Yuen

For full details of all Popular Culture and Philosophybooks, visit www.opencourtbooks.com .

AN EXTRAORDINARY GENIUS FOR MINUTIAE

Chapter 1

A Sherlockian Scandal in Philosophy

Kate Rufa

I m in love with Sherlock Holmes. Ill admit it. He is so tantalizingly (yet utterly, infuriatingly) English. His cool, concise, and unapologetically confident nature enthralls me. Whether hes pacing a crime scene with his trademark magnifying glass or wearing one of his numerous disguises, Holmes is the epitome of confidence and his unruffled and rational persona is absolutely riveting and absorbing.

In my mind the image of Sherlock Holmes will forever remain the talented actor Jeremy Brett who played Holmes in the revolutionary 1980s TV series, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes . And while I feel that other such actors who have taken on the Holmes role have given equally adequate performancesI enjoyed the versions played by Basil Rathbone and Robert Downey Jr.no one will ever take the place of Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes in my heart.

But while the various movies are fun, Ive always held the opinion that the books are far superior and Sir Arthur Conan Doyles world famous literary character was truly innovative. Holmess astute logical thinking and objective rationality gives him a distinctive character. He is continuously unimpressed with the crimes and criminals he pursues and his unperturbed countenance makes him an exceptionally entertaining hero.

Were truly astounded by Sherlock Holmes because he is never astounded himself.

Sherlock Holmes is, at his quintessential core, unemotional, objective, and completely rational. He uses logic, science, and strict analytical cognitive processes to solve his mysteries. Whether hes handling the affairs of scandalous royalty as the worlds first and only unofficial consulting detective, chasing a murderer in the dead of night with his trusty hound Toby, or catching a treasure thief in an adrenalin-racing boat chase, one thing remains a constant: his logical and unemotional persona.