Zombies, Vampires, and Philosophy: New Life for the Undead (Popular Culture and Philosophy)

Since 1968's Night of the Living Dead , zombie culture has steadily limped and clawed its way into the center of popular culture. Today, zombies and vampires have taken over TV shows, comic books, cartoons, video games, and movies. Zombies, Vampires, and Philosophy drags the theories of famous philosophers like Socrates and Descartes into the territory of the undead, exploring questions like: Why do vampires and vegetarians share a similar worldview? Why is understanding zombies the key to health care reform? And what does "healthy in mind and body" mean for vampires and zombies? Answers to these questions and more await readers brave enough to make this fun, philosophical foray into the undead. A Collection Of Philosophical Essays About The Undead: Beings Such As Vampires And Zombies Who Are Physically Or Mentally Dead Yet Not At Rest. Topics Addressed Include The Metaphysics And Ethics Of Undeath--provided By Publisher. Part I. It's Alive (sort Of) -- 1. The Badness Of Undeath / Richard Greene -- 2. Res Corporealis: Persons, Bodies, And Zombies / William S. Larkin -- 3. She's Not Your Mother Anymore, She's A Zombie!: Zombies, Value, And Personal Identity / Hamish Thompson -- 4. Dead Serious: Evil And The Ontology Of The Undead / Manuel Vargas -- 5. Zombies, 'blade Runner,' And The Mind-body Problem / Larry Hauser -- Part Ii. Undead White Males -- 6. Heidegger The Vampire Slayer: The Undead And Fundamental Ontology / Adam Barrows -- 7. When There's No More Room In Hell, The Dead Will Shop The Earth: Romero And Aristotle On Zombies, Happiness, And Consumption / Matthew Walker -- 8. Zombies, Rest And Motion: Spinoza And The Speed Of Undeath / K. Silem Mohammad -- Part Iii. Dirty Rotting Scoundrels -- 9. Zombie Gladiators / Dale Jacquette -- 10. Should Vampires Be Held Accountable For Their Bloodthirsty Behavior? / John Draeger -- 11. The Bloody Connection Between Vampires And Vegetarians / Wayne Yuen -- 12. Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don't: Vampires And The Hedonistic Paradox / Robert Arp -- 13. Deserving To Be A Vampire: The Ethical And Existential Elements Of Vampirism / Ted M. Preston -- Part Iv. Digging Up The Body Politic -- 14. The Political Economy Of Non-coercive Vampire Lifestyles / Douglas Glen Whitman -- 15. Rousseau And The Vampires: Toward A Political Philosophy Of The Undead / Phillip Cole -- 16. The Undead Martyr: Sex, Death, And Revolution In George Romero's Zombie Films / Simon Clark -- 17. When They Aren't Eating Us, They Bring Us Together: Zombies And The American Social Contract / Leah A. Murray -- Part V. Leaving A Good-looking Corpse -- 18. The Fear Of Fear Itself: The Philosophy Of Halloween / Noël Carroll -- 19. Powerful, Beautiful, And Without Regret: Femininity, Masculinity, And The Vampire Aesthetic / Joan Grassbaugh Forry -- True And Untrue Blood / Rachel Robison -- 21. The Twilight Of Infinite Desire / Randall E. Auxier And Eileen Townsend. Edited By Richard Greene And K. Silem Mohammad. Rev. Ed Of V. 22: The Undead And Philosophy. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Why do vampires and vegetarians share a similar worldview? Why is understanding zombies the key to health care reform? What does 'healthy in mind and body' mean for the undead? This book addresses these questions. Contents A New Lease of Life for the Undead Part 1 1 2 3 4 5 Part 2 6 7 8 Part 3 9 10 11 12 13 Part 4 14 15 16 17 Part 5 18 19 20 21 Philosophers by Day... Hemolytic Index