Description
Book SynopsisSince Theodor Geisel published his first children''s book in 1937 under the pseudonym Dr. Seuss, children and adults alike have been captivated by the charming and laconic tales of whimsical characters and imaginative worlds. But Dr. Seuss'' stories are more than just catchy poems; they often wrestle with serious philosophical and moral dilemmas, whether it is Horton discovering the very essence of life or the Lorax teaching us about morality. Dr. Seuss and Philosophy explores philosophical concepts such as the nature of the good life in Oh, the Places You''ll Go!, the nature of knowledge in McElligot''s Pool, postmodernity in On Beyond Zebra, business and the environment in The Lorax, and moral character in How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, among many others. Anyone who loves Dr. Seuss or is interested in philosophy will find this book to be intriguing and enlightening.
Trade ReviewThis is a unique book. I would not have imagined anyone imagining doing such a thing—but these philosophers did. They imagined it, and they did it. And it is published. You can hold it in your hand, or even read it. Oy vey! -- Daniel Pinkwater
If you are a person who likes to ask "Why?" But who finds the philosophers just a bit dry, Then this book's for you, since it's not so abstruse, When your guide to Deep Thinkers is—the wise Dr. Seuss! -- Thomas Cathcart, author of Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar and Heidegger and a Hippo Walk through Those Pearly Gates
Few people realize how philosophical picture books are. Dr. Seuss and Philosophy should help change that. Readers should not miss Jacob Held's wonderful introductionary poem in which he channels Dr. Seuss. It's a real treasure! -- Thomas Wartenberg, Professor of Philosophy, Mt. Holyoke College
Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements Editor's Note Unsettled Meddling, an introduction in verse Chapter 1: Oh, the Places You'll Go! The Examined, Happy Life Benjamin Rider Chapter 2: My Troubles are going to have Troubles with Me: Schopenhauer, Pessimism, and Nietzche Jacob M. Held Chapter 3: Gretrude McFuzz Should've Read Marx, Or Sneetches of the World Unite Jacob M. Held Chapter 4: Socratic Seuss: Intellectual Integrity and Truth-Orientation Matthew F. Pierlott Chapter 5: Neither Here, nor There, no Anywhere? Randall E. Auxier Chapter 6: McElligot's Pool: Epistemology (with Fish!) Ron Novy Chapter 7: On Beyond Modernity, Or Conrad and a Postmodern Alphabet Jacob M. Held Chapter 8: From There to Here, From Here to There, Diversity is Everywhere Tanya Jeffcoat Chapter 9: What Would You Do If Your Mother Asked You? A Brief Introduction to Ethics Jacob M. Held and Eric N. Wilson Chapter 10: Horton Hears You, Too! Seuss and Kant on Repecting Persons Dean A. Kowalski Chapter 11: Pragmatist Ethics with John Dewey, Horton, and the Lorax Thomas M. Alexander Chapter 12: The Grinch's Change of Heart: Whodunit? Anthony Cunningham Chapter 13: Thidwick the Big-Hearted Bearer of Property Rights Aeon J. Skoble Chapter 14: Rebellion in Slala-ma-Sond: The Social Contract and a Turtle Named "Mack" Ron Novy Chapter 15: Whose Egg is it, Really? Property Rights and Distributive Justice Henry Cribbs Chapter 16: It's Not Personal...It's Just Bizzyneuss: Business Ethics, the Company, Its Stakeholders Matthew F. Pierlott Chapter 17: Speaking for Business, Speakign for Trees: Business and Environment in The Lorax Johann A. Klaassen and Mari-Gretta G. Klaassen Chapter 18: Dr. Seuss Meets Philosophical Aesthetics Dwayne Tunstall The Menagerie: Author Bios
