The Ultimate Star Wars And Philosophy - You Must Unlearn What You Have Learned

PHILOSOPHY/POP CULTURE

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 StarWars 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 cliches; 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 StarWars and Philosophy presents an original set of expert essays by some of the brightest minds in the galaxy, exploring the deeper side of StarWars 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!

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 authoredThomistic Principles and Bioethics (2006), and is the editor of Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2008) and co-editor ofSons 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 includingTerminator 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).