Transformers and Philosophy: More than Meets the Mind (Popular Culture and Philosophy)

Transformers began with toys and a cartoon series in 1984 and has since grown to include comic books, movies, and video games — its science fiction story has reached an audience with a wide range second only to that of Star Wars. Here, in Transformers and Philosophy, a dream team of philosophers pursues the fascinating questions posed by humankind’s encounter with an artificially intelligent mechanical civilization: Is genuine artificial intelligence possible? Would a robotic civilization come with its own morality and artistic life, and would it find a need for romantic love? Should we be more careful about developing robots that may eventually develop ideas of their own? Transformers and Philosophy puts Transformers under a microscope and exposes its philosophical implications in an instantly readable way. Contents Making Proper Introductions, JOHN R. SHOOK and LIZ STILLWAGGON SWAN EPISODE ONE: We Have Company 1. The Changing Shape of Things to Come J. STORRS HALL 2. First Contact JOHN R. SHOOK EPISODE TWO: Seeing and Believing 3. Object Lessons KEVIN S. DECKER, KARL ERBACHER, and GABRIEL RYE 4. What Changes when Transformers Transform? MICHAEL SPICHER 5. In the Eye of the Beholder JOSEF STEIFF EPISODE THREE: Mind over Matter 6. Can Metal Be Mental? MATTHEW PIKE 7. Will We Meet Optimus Prime in Heaven? M.R. EYESTONE 8. Optimus Prime in Therapy ERIC SWAN and LIZ STILLWAGGON SWAN EPISODE FOUR: I and Thou 9. Morally Responsible Machines ROBERT ARP 10. Robots in Love? JAMIE WATSON and ROBERT ARP EPISODE FIVE: Good versus Evil 11. Good Robot, Bad Robot, What’s the Difference? NICOLAS MICHAUD 12. Beyond Good? Beyond Evil? Beyond Your Wildest Imagination? ADAM BARKMAN 13. Optimus Prime: Hero for Our Time COREY NEIL EPISODE SIX: War and Peace 14. Megatron, Fascist Philosopher JOHN R. SHOOK 15. Are Ethical War-Bots Possible? DAVID R. KOEPSELL 16. Freedom Is the Right of All Sentient Beings GEOFFREY ALLAN PLAUCHÉ About the Authors Index The Changing Shape Of Things To Come / J. Storrs Hall -- First Contact / John R. Shook -- Object Lessons / Kevin S. Decker, Karl Erbacher, And Gabriel Rye -- What Changes When Transformers Transform? / Michael Spicher -- In The Eye Of The Beholder / Josef Steiff -- Can Metal Be Mental? / Matthew Pike -- Will We Meet Optimus Prime In Heaven? / M.r. Eyestone -- Optimus Prime In Therapy / Eric Swan And Liz Stillwaggon Swan -- Morally Responsible Machines / Robert Arp -- Robots In Love? / Jamie Watson And Robert Arp -- Good Robot, Bad Robot, What's The Difference? / Nicolas Michaud -- Beyond Good? Beyond Evil? Beyond Your Wildest Imagination? / Adam Barkman -- Optimus Prime: Hero For Our Time / Corey Neil -- Megatron, Fascist Philosopher / John R. Shook -- Are Ethical War-bots Possible? / David R. Koepsell -- Freedom Is The Right Of All Sentient Beings / Geoffrey Allan Plauché. Edited By John R. Shook And Liz Stillwaggon Swan. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.