English

For Introduction to Philosophy courses or for courses in Humanities and Philosophy in/and/of Literature.

Philosophy Through Fiction and Film offers a fresh approach to philosophy using literary and film narratives along with standard philosophic works to introduce students to the basic branches of the field. The fiction and film enliven the philosophic issues, tapping into today's cultural experience, and the philosophic works ground the issues, showing their deeper significance. At the same time, the fundamental issues of philosophy are covered to provide a complete introduction to the field.

• A fresh approach to philosophy—Uses film and literary narrative along with standard philosophic works to introduce the major fields of philosophy.

  • Connects to today's students by showing basic philosophic issues in a contemporary context and through lively effective media.

• An extensive bibliography of films—Grouped under the fundamental fields of philosophy.

  • Allows instructors to easily identify those films that can be shown in class to further enliven the philosophic material.

• Unique discussions of film.

  • Illustrates philosophic concepts in a way that appeals to both students and faculty.

Preface

The Aesthetic Experience of Film xi

Introduction: The Basic Branches of Philosophy xv

 

I. Obtaining Reliable Knowledge: Epistemology 1

 

A. APPEARANCE AND REALITY: IS THEWORLD THEWAY IT SEEMS? 2

 

1. The Physical World As Shadows

The Republic, Plato 4

 

2. The Visible Surface and Inner Reality

The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge, Rainer Maria

Rilke 10

 

3. Differing Perspectives on Truth

Rashomon, Akira Kurosawa 16

 

B. MODES OF KNOWING: PERCEIVING, REASONING, INTUITING 24

 

1. Trusting Our Senses: Empiricism

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding,

David Hume 28

 

2. Using Our Heads: Rationalism

Meditations on First Philosophy, René Descartes 37

 

3. Intuitive Awareness

Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse 50

 

4. Imaginative Understanding

Juliet of the Spirits, Federico Fellini 58

 

II. Exploring the Nature of Reality: Metaphysics 77

 

A. THE SELF: QUESTIONING ITS IDENTITY AND FREEDOM 78

 

1. The Continuity of the Self

Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man, Thomas Reid 84

 

2. Being Defined by Gender

The Edible Woman, Margaret Atwood 90

 

3. Differentiating Persons from Machines

2001, A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick 101

B. THE UNIVERSE: WHAT IS ULTIMATELY REAL? 110

 

1. Positing Spirit as Fundamental: Idealism

Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous,

George Berkeley 115

 

2. Reality as Purposeless Matter: Naturalism

“The Open Boat,” Stephen Crane 124

 

3. The Problem of Virtual Reality

The Matrix, Wachowski Brothers 145

 

III. Judging the Value of Conduct: Ethics 157

 

A. RELATIVISM AND OBJECTIVISM: ARE THERE UNIVERSAL VALUES? 158

 

1. Investing Life With Purpose

The Humanism of Existentialism, Jean-Paul Sartre 162

 

2. The Limits of Relativism

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,

Ursula K. Le Guin 174

 

3. Recognizing Our Responsibilities

On the Waterfront, Elia Kazan 181

 

B. IDEALS IN LIVING: DOINGWHAT’S RIGHT OR ACHIEVING THE GOOD 197

 

1. Pursuing Human Happiness

Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill 204

 

2. Obeying Moral Principles

Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals,

Immanuel Kant 213

 

3. The Good versus the Right

Antigone, Jean Anouilh 222

 

4. Awarding Priority to Human Values

Saving Private Ryan, Steven Spielberg 235

 

IV. Foundations of Belief: The Philosophy of Religion 247

 

A. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD: EXAMINING THE ARGUMENTS 248

 

1. Attempting to Prove There Is a God

 

Summa Theologica, St. Thomas Aquinas 254

 

2. Finding Meaning in Life Through Religion

“The Death of Ivan Ilyitch,” Leo Tolstoy 261

 

3. Is Religious Experience Authentic?

Contact, Robert Zemeckis 283

 

B. THE PROBLEM OF EVIL: IF GOD IS GOOD, WHY DO PEOPLE SUFFER? 293

 

1. Overcoming Obstacles Builds Character

The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis 298

 

2. A Loving God Would Not Allow Children

to Suffer

The Brothers Karamazov, Fedor Dostoevsky 306

 

3. Our Sins Bring Evil Down Upon Us

The Devil’s Advocate, Taylor Hackford 323

 

V. Establishing the Social Order: Political Philosophy 337

 

A. THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY: FREEDOM AND EQUALITY 338

 

1. People Are Naturally Free, Equal,

and Independent

Second Treatise of Government, John Locke 344

 

2. Tribal Justice and Colonial Justice

Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe 355

 

3. The Ravages of the Holocaust

Schindler’s List, Steven Spielberg 371

 

B. THE IDEAL STATE: WHAT IS THE BEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT? 381

 

1. Various Forms Are Right Depending

on the Circumstances

The Politics, Aristotle 385

 

2. Contentment Cannot Justify

Totalitarian Control

Brave New World, Aldous Huxley 392

 

3. Democracy, War, and the Will of the People

Born on the Fourth of July, Oliver Stone 399

 

Credits 421

Index 423

Philosophy of Literature  (Philosophy)
Introduction to Philosophy  [TEXTS AND TEXTS WITH READING]   (Philosophy)
Introduction to Film  [SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCTS]   (Literature & Creative Writing)

"The author tackles difficult material in a very straightforward and readable way. At the same time, he does not reduce the various views to caricatures. The combination of complexity and clarity is rare indeed." — Joseph H. Kupfer, Iowa State University

"I like the use of fiction and film as philosophical material that the book provides. I also like the use of original texts that it offers. I especially like the sections on Appearance and Reality and the Universe." — Thomas E. Wartenberg, Mount Holyoke College

Dr. Burton F. Porter is Professor of Philosophy at Western New England College in Massachusetts, having done his undergraduate work at the University of Maryland and his graduate work at St. Andrews University (Scotland) and Oxford University. He is the author of The Voice of Reason (2002), The Good Life: Alternatives in Ethics, 3/e (2000), Philosophy: A Literary and Conceptual Approach, 3/e (1998), Religion and Reason (1993), Reasons for Living (1988), Personal Philosophy: Perspectives on Living (1976), and Deity and Morality (1968).

Philosophy Through Fiction and Film breaks new ground for the introductory philosophy course. Burton Porter introduces students to philosophy using literary works and films together with classic works of leading philosophers. The use of fiction and film enriches the philosophic dialogue, linking traditional philosophy to students' contemporary experience, while the philosophic works ground the issues, showing their deeper significance. Philosophy comes alive as something vivid and compelling!

Features of Philosophy Through Fiction and Film!

• Selections from numerous cultures and countries; diverse voices, including men and women, different races, and various historical periods represented.
• Incisive synopses of 10 films explaining their philosophic content and significance.
• An extensive bibliography of films as well as literature, grouped under the major branches of philosophy for easy reference.
• Offers a fresh introduction to philosophy with immediate appeal to students because of the use of films and works of fiction.

Analyzing Literature: A Guide for Students (Valuepack item only), 2/E
McGee
©2002 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321093380 | ISBN-13: 9780321093387
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Common Philosophical Terms
Prentice Hall
©2005 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 72 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 013189661X | ISBN-13: 9780131896611
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Essential Study Card for Grammar and Documentation
Longman
©2007 | Prentice Hall | Study Card; 10 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321463137 | ISBN-13: 9780321463135

Evaluating Plays on Film and Video (ValuePack Item Only)
Welsh & Morawski
©2004 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 78 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321187946 | ISBN-13: 9780321187949

Evaluating a Performance
Greenwald
©2002 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321095413 | ISBN-13: 9780321095411

Glossary of Literary and Critical Terms (Valuepack item only), A
Jacobs
©2003 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321126912 | ISBN-13: 9780321126917

InterWrite PRS RF (Personal Response System)
InterWrite PRS & Allyn & Bacon/Longman
©2005 | Prentice Hall | Electronic Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205436951 | ISBN-13: 9780205436958

Longman Electronic Testbank for Literature (CD ROM version), The
Jacobs
©2003 | Prentice Hall | CD-ROM Only | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321143140 | ISBN-13: 9780321143143
  View Downloadable Files

Longman Electronic Testbank for Literature (printed version), The
Jacobs
©2003 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321143124 | ISBN-13: 9780321143129
  View Downloadable Files

Longman Journal for Creative Writing (Valuepack item only)
Johnston
©2002 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321095405 | ISBN-13: 9780321095404

Longman Literature Timeline (Generic Laminated Grid) (Valuepack item only), The
Jacobs
©2003 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321143159 | ISBN-13: 9780321143150

MLA Documentation Style Guide: A Concise Guide for Students (Valuepack Item Only), 2/E
Greer
©2004 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 50 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321243579 | ISBN-13: 9780321243577

Merriam Webster's Reader's Handbook: Your Complete Guide to Literary Terms
Webster
©2001 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321105419 | ISBN-13: 9780321105417

MyLiteratureLab Student Access Code Card (for valuepacks)
Pearson
©2009 | Prentice Hall | Access Code Card | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205696252 | ISBN-13: 9780205696253
URL:  http://www.myliteraturelab.com

New American Webster Handy College Dictionary, The, 3/E
Penguin
©1998 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0451181662 | ISBN-13: 9780451181664

Philosophy Cafe Website (Open access)
Longman
©2005 | Prentice Hall | Website | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321275853 | ISBN-13: 9780321275851
URL:  http://www.ablongman.com/philosophycafe

ResearchNavigator.com Guide
Allyn & Bacon
©2007 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 48 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205517196 | ISBN-13: 9780205517190

ResearchNavigator.com Guide
Allyn & Bacon & Barr
©2007 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 48 pp | Out of Stock
ISBN-10: 020552396X | ISBN-13: 9780205523962

ResearchNavigator.com Guide: English (Valuepack item only)
Branscomb & Trim
©2007 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 80 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321496019 | ISBN-13: 9780321496010

Responding to Literature: A Writer's Journal (Valuepack Item Only)
Kline
©2002 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321095421 | ISBN-13: 9780321095428

Student's Guide to Getting Published, A
Swartwout & Elledge
©2003 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321117794 | ISBN-13: 9780321117793
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Teaching Literature Online, 2/E
Kline
©2002 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321106180 | ISBN-13: 9780321106186
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Workshop Guide to Creative Writing, A (Valuepack item only)
Johnston
©2002 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321095391 | ISBN-13: 9780321095398

iClicker Classroom Response System
iClicker & Allyn & Bacon/Longman
©2008 | Prentice Hall | Electronic Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205594506 | ISBN-13: 9780205594504

For Introduction to Film

Allyn & Bacon Introduction to Film Study Site (Open access)
Allyn & Bacon
©2008 | Prentice Hall | Website | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205581765 | ISBN-13: 9780205581764
URL:  http://www.abfilmstudies.com

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