Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Knowledge Here Begins Out There (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series)

PHILOSOPHY/POP CULTURE “The contributors to Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy strive to make things relevant to fans of the show, and they put their information out in a way that is accessible to folks who wouldn't know Heidegger from Heineken.” Green Man Review, Spring 2009'The writers are well versed in their subjects...The book is most effective at making the reader rethink what they thought they knew.'Neo-opsis What's the point of living after your world has been destroyed? This is one of many questions raised by the Sci-Fi Channel's critically acclaimed series Battlestar Galactica. More than just an action-packed “space opera,” each episode offers a dramatic character study of the human survivors and their Cylon pursuers as they confront existential, moral, metaphysical, theological, and political crises. This volume addresses some of the key questions to which the Colonials won't find easy answers, even when they reach Earth: Are Cylons persons? Is Baltar's scientific worldview superior to Six's religious faith? Can Starbuck be free if she has a special destiny? Is it ethical to cut one's losses and leave people behind? Is collaboration with the enemy ever the right move? Is humanity a “flawed creation?” Should we share the Cylon goal of “transhumanism?” Is it really a big deal that Starbuck's a woman? What's the point of living after your world has been destroyed? This is one of many questions raised by the Sci-Fi Channel's critically acclaimed series Battlestar Galactica . More than just an action-packed "space opera," each episode offers a dramatic character study of the human survivors and their Cylon pursuers as they confront existential, moral, metaphysical, theological, and political crises. This book addresses some of the key questions to which the Colonials won't find easy answers, even when they reach Earth: Are Cylons persons? Is Baltar's scientific worldview superior to Six's religious faith? Can Starbuck be free if she has a special destiny? Is it ethical to cut one's losses and leave people behind? Is collaboration with the enemy ever the right move? Is humanity a "flawed creation?" Should we share the Cylon goal of "transhumanism"? Is it a really a big deal that Starbuck's a woman? Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy 2 Frontmatter 2 Chapter 01 12 Chapter 02 25 Chapter 03 39 Chapter 04 50 Chapter 05 62 Chapter 06 72 Chapter 07 83 Chapter 08 95 Chapter 09 107 Chapter 10 121 Chapter 11 134 Chapter 12 148 Chapter 13 159 Chapter 14 174 Chapter 15 186 Chapter 17 197 Chapter 18 208 Chapter 19 220 Chapter 20 231 There Are Only Twenty-Two Cyclon Contributors 243 The Fleet's Manifest 248

This thought-provoking book examines the philosophical issues arising from the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica

television series, revealing how the ragtag fleet's outward journey to Earth is also an inward exploration for the human survivors and their Cylon pursuers.