Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant (Popular Culture and Philosophy (35))

Philosophy and space travel are characterized by the same fundamental purpose: exploration. An essential guide for both philosophers and Trekkers, Star Trek and Philosophy combines a philosophical spirit of inquiry with the beloved television and film series to consider questions not only about the scientific prospects of interstellar travel but also the inward journey to examine the human condition. The expansive topics range from the possibilities for communication among different cultural backgrounds to questions about the stoic temperament exhibited by Vulcans to Ferengi business practices. Specifically chosen to break new ground in exploring the philosophical dimensions of Star Trek, these articles boldly go where no philosopher has gone before. From cult to mainstream, the Star Trek epic has gone where no work of dramatic art has gone before, to become the most popular imaginary world yet conceived.

The same restless and relentless spirit of exploration that propels the voyages of the starship Enterprise is also the driving force of philosophical wonder throughout human history. Star Trek and philosophy share the same prime directive: testing ideas from our past and present to progressively improve our future.

In Star Trek and Philosophy, twenty-one professional philosophers put their brains into warp drive to probe the limits of the limitless, expanding our knowledge of the furthest reaches of thought while also delving deep into the human essence.

“A philosophical feast for Trekkies and other sci-fi fans. One of the things that makes Star Trek so exciting is the philosophical angle it has often presented. Reading this terrific book will prolong and deepen that excitement.”

—Jorge J. E. Gracia, editor of Mel Gibson's Passion and Philosophy

“Playful, subtle, and rich with cultural referencesbut actively create it. As well as beaming up famous philosophers like Kant and Nietzsche, this wonderful book plunges us into recent philosophical discussions, some of which have arisen in the wake of the accelerated technological developments of the past fifty years.”

—Margret Grebowicz, editor of SciFi in the Mind's Eye

“Boldly going where so many have gone before, these twenty-one philosophers manage to do the impossible: they find new ways to talk about this most talked about of TV franchises.”

—James B. South, editor of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy

“Star Trek in all its incarnations remains one of the most philosophically fascinating TV and movie epics. Star Trek and Philosophy appeals to both philosophers and fans.”

—Richard Hanley, author of Is Data Human? The Metaphysics of Star Trek

Contents The Federation Council Ex Astris, Scientia Starfleet Directive One 1 2 3 4 5 Starfleet Directive Two 6 7 8 9 Starfleet Directive Three 10 11 12 13 14 Starfleet Directive Four 15 16 17 18 Crew of Starship Enterprise NCC-1701-? Chronicles from the Final Frontier Isolinear Data "Essays address philosophical aspects of the five television series and ten feature films that make up the Star Trek fictional universe"--Provided by publisher.