Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy: The Footprints of a Gigantic Mind (Popular Culture and Philosophy)

This entertaining collection of essays deserves to exist because Sherlock Holmes sees things others don’t. He sees the world in a different way, and by so doing, allows us to see that same world – and human behavior – in different ways as well. Oh, sure, there have been countless detectives who have followed in his footsteps and who seem to rival his abilities. Just turn on the TV or browse the local bookshop and you’ll find idiosyncratic super sleuths using forensics and reasoning to solve a whole host of crimes and misdeeds. And yet no one rivals our dear, dear Holmes. Why does Sherlock reign, even more than a century later, as king? Can this mystery be solved? Unable to reach either Holmes or Watson (or Doyle for that matter, though we’ve tried every medium we can think of), we’ve been forced to gather our own team of investigators to practice their powers of observation and perception, to apply their own reasoning and methodologies to the task at hand. The results, I fear, have led us to a number of cases that must be solved first.Is Holmes simply eccentric or a sociopath? s he human, a dog or something from the holodeck? Is he as dangerous on the page as he is in person? Wait – does he even exist? For that matter, do you? (I fear several investigators have been forced to take a much needed holiday after wrestling with that one.)What is the source of his faculty of observation and facility for deduction? Systematic training as Watson surmises? Genetic? Or is he just really lucky?And is this whole logic thing compatible with emotions? Are Holmes and Watson good friends or soul mates? Just what is the nature of friendship? Do they complete each other or just get on each other’s nerves? And why all the secrecy? Disguises? Deceptions?The plot thickens. What is the essence of consciousness? Is the observable world subject to our intentions? Why does Holmes debunk mysticism when Doyle so readily embraces it? Why is Holmes our favorite drug user?Our notebooks are filled with clues and, dare I say, answers. Is there more than one way to define the concept, justice? Is hope necessary in the world? Is boredom? Play? Can any thing really be understood? Objectively?And just what is the last unresolved mystery involving Sherlock Holmes? The game that's afoot isn't just the thing being pursued but the fun to be had as well. This Entertaining Collection Of Essays Shows That Sherlock Holmes Sees Things Others Don't. He Sees The World In A Different Way, And By So Doing, Allows Us To See That Same World - And Human Behaviour - In New Ways As Well. Is Holmes Simply Eccentric Or A Sociopath? Is He Human Or Something From Beyond? And Is He As Dangerous On The Page As He Is In Person? Contributors Explore The Source Of Holmes' Faculty Of Observation And Facility For Deduction: Is It Systematic Training (as Watson Surmises), Genetics, Or Is He Just Really Lucky? Other Essays Question Whether Logic Is Compatible With Emotions, And Investigate The Nature Of The Friendship Between Holmes And Watson. Are They Truly Friends Or Is It Simply A Way To Disguise Another Level Of Secrecy And Deception? Extraordinary Genius Of Minutiae. -- Sherlockian Scandal In Philosophy / Kate Rufa -- Calculating Humanity / Timothy Sexton -- Is Holmes Really Just Lucky? / J. Solomon Johnson -- Adventure Of The Candle And The Dumbbell / Fiona Tomkinson -- Action Man Or Dreamy Detective / Sami Paavola, Lauri Järvilehto -- Dog Reflects The Family Life. -- From The Mean Streets To Baker Street / Francine J. Sanders -- Mystery Of The Horrible Hound / Rafe Mcgregor -- Case Of The Dangerous Detective / Ronald Green, D.e. Wittkower -- I Suppose I Shall Have To Compound A Felony As Usual / Mihaela Frunză, Anatolia Bessemer -- Game Has Virtually Stumbled / Tom Dowd -- Curious Case Of The Controversial Canon / Ivan Wolfe -- I Think You Might Want A Little Unofficial Help. -- How Marriage Changed Sherlock Holmes / Amy Kind -- Study In Friendship / Ruth Tallman -- Out Of House And Holmes / Julia Round -- Feminist Scandal In Holmes's Generalizations / Mona Roche, James Rocha -- There Are Unexplored Possibilities In You. -- The Many Faces Of Deception / Don Fallis -- Watson's A Liar! / Rory E. Kraft, Jr. -- Dark Rumors And Hereditary Tendencies / Sawyer J. Lahr -- Touch Of The Dramatic / Tamás Demeter -- Holmes Is A Little Scientific For My Tastes. -- Resisting The Siren Song Of Rationalism / Jim John Marks -- Thing The Lion Left / Brian Domino -- Where The Most Magical Mind May Be At Fault / Miriam Franchella -- What Mycroft Knows That Sherlock Doesn't / Andrew Terjesen -- Music At Strange Hours. -- Why Sherlock Holmes Is My Favorite Drug User / Kevin Kilroy -- Boredom On Baker Street / Daniel P. Malloy -- Willful Self Destruction? / Greg Littmann -- Like Some Strange Buddha / Cari Callis -- Tracing Of Footsteps. -- Why Sherlock Is Like A Good Hip Hop Song / Rachel Michaels -- Moriarty's Final Human Problem In Star Trek : The Next Generation / Zoran Samardzija -- Curious Case Of The Dog In Prime Time / Jonathan Clements -- Study In Simulacra / Jef Burnham -- Game Is Still Afoot! / Sean C. Duncan -- Final Final Problem / Magali Rennes. Edited By Josef Steiff. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This entertaining collection of essays deserves to exist because Sherlock Holmes sees things others dont. He sees the world in a different way, and by so doing, allows us to see that same world and human behavior in different ways as well. Oh, sure, there have been countless detectives who have followed in his footsteps and who seem to rival his abilities. Just turn on the TV or browse the local bookshop and youll find idiosyncratic super sleuths using forensics and reasoning to solve a whole host of crimes and misdeeds. And yet no one rivals our dear, dear Holmes. Why does Sherlock reign, even more than a century later, as king? Can this mystery be solved? Unable to reach either Holmes or Watson (or Doyle for that matter, though weve tried every medium we can think of), weve been forced to gather our own team of investigators to practice their powers of observation and perception, to apply their own reasoning and methodologies to the task at hand. The results, I fear, have led us to a number of cases that must be solved first. Is Holmes simply eccentric or a sociopath? s he human, a dog or something from the holodeck? Is he as dangerous on the page as he is in person? Wait does he even exist? For that matter, do you? (I fear several investigators have been forced to take a much needed holiday after wrestling with that one.) What is the source of his faculty of observation and facility for deduction? Systematic training as Watson surmises? Genetic? Or is he just really lucky? And is this whole logic thing compatible with emotions? Are Holmes and Watson good friends or soul mates? Just what is the nature of friendship? Do they complete each other or just get on each others nerves? And why all the secrecy? Disguises? Deceptions? The plot thickens. What is the essence of consciousness? Is the observable world subject to our intentions? Why does Holmes debunk mysticism when Doyle so readily embraces it? Why is Holmes our favorite drug user? Our notebooks are filled with clues and, dare I say, answers. Is there more than one way to define the concept, justice? Is hope necessary in the world? Is boredom? Play? Can any thing really be understood? Objectively? And just what is the last unresolved mystery involving Sherlock Holmes? The game that's afoot isn't just the thing being pursued but the fun to be had as well. This entertaining collection of essays shows that Sherlock Holmes sees things others don't. He sees the world in a different way, and by so doing, allows us to see that same world – and human behavior – in different ways as well. Oh, sure, there have been countless detectives who have followed in his footsteps and who seem to rival his abilities. Just turn on the TV or browse the local bookshop and you'll find idiosyncratic super sleuths using forensics and reasoning to solve a whole host of crimes and misdeeds. And yet no one rivals our dear, dear Holmes. Why does Sherlock reign, even more than a century later, as king? Can this mystery be solved? Unable to reach either Holmes or Watson (or Doyle for that matter, though we've tried every medium we can think of), we've been forced to gather our own team of investigators to practice their powers of observation and perception, to apply their own reasoning and methodologies to the task at hand. The results, I fear, have led us to a number of cases that must be solved first.Is Holmes simply eccentric or a sociopath? Is he human or something from the holodeck? Is he as dangerous on the page as he is in person? Wait – does he even exist? For that matter, do you? (I fear several investigators have been forced to take a much needed holiday after wrestling with that one.)What is the source of his faculty of observation and facility for deduction? Systematic training as Watson surmises? Genetic? Or is he just really lucky?And is this whole logic thing compatible with emotions? Are Holmes and Watson good friends or soul mates? Just what is the nature of friendship? Do they complete each other or just get on each other's nerves? And why all the secrecy? Disguises? Deceptions?The plot thickens. What is the essence of consciousness? Is the observable world subject to our intentions? Why does Holmes debunk mysticism when Doyle so readily embraces it? Why is Holmes our favorite drug user?Our notebooks are filled with clues and, dare I say, answers. Is there more than one way to define the concept, justice? Is hope necessary in the world? Is boredom? Play? Can any thing really be understood? Objectively?And just what is the last unresolved mystery involving Sherlock Holmes? The game that's afoot isn't just the thing being pursued but the fun to be had as well. A collection of essays that shows that Sherlock Holmes sees things others don't. It explores the source of Holmes' faculty of observation and facility for deduction: Is it systematic training (as Watson surmises), genetics, or is he just really lucky?