Philosophy and Blade Runner

Philosophy and Blade Runner is the first book to explore a full range of philosophical issues in the classic science fiction film Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott. Through critical examination of the film's distinctive treatment of perennial philosophical issues including human nature, personhood, identity, consciousness, free will, morality, God, death, time, and the meaning of life, the distinctive philosophy of Blade Runner is explored and assessed. The result is an engaging philosophical exploration of the greatest science fiction film of all time and a unique contribution to the philosophy of film that invites readers to ponder questions of universal human significance: Where did I come from? Where am I going? How long have I got?

Timothy Shanahan is Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University, USA. He is the author of Reason and Insight (2003), The Evolution of Darwinism (2004), Philosophy 9/11 (2005), The Provisional Irish Republican Army and the Morality of Terrorism (2009), and over two dozen articles in scholarly journals.