Examines important themes involving ethics
Trade Review
“If you’re looking for a straight discussion of philosophy try reading Frederick Copleston’s The History of Philosophy, but if you’re open to learning in a fun environment try this book. Just remember that this book is first of all a study of philosophy geared to the non-specialist. The by-product of the book is that you will deepen your understanding of and engagement with the characters in these shows.” (Ponderings on a Faith Journey, 10 August 2012)
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: “Unraveling the Mysteries” 1
Part One “It All Began On A Warm Summer’s Evening In Greece”: Aristotelian Insights
1 Aristotle on Sheldon Cooper: Ancient Greek Meets Modern Geek 7
Greg Littmann
2 “You’re a Sucky, Sucky Friend”: Seeking Aristotelian Friendship in The Big Bang Theory 21
Dean A. Kowalski
3 The Big Bang Theory on the Use and Abuse of Modern Technology 35
Kenneth Wayne Sayles III
Part Two “Is It Wrong To Say I Love Our Killer Robot?”: Ethics And Virtue
4 Feeling Bad about Feeling Good: Is It Morally Wrong to Laugh at Sheldon? 51
W. Scott Clifton
5 . . . But Is Wil Wheaton Evil? 65
Donna Marie Smith
6 Do We Need a Roommate Agreement?: Pleasure, Selfishness, and Virtue in The Big Bang Theory 80
Gregory L. Bock and Jeffrey L. Bock
Part Three “Perhaps You Mean A Different Thing Than I Do When You Say ‘Science’”: Science, Scientism, And Religion
7 Getting Fundamental about Doing Physics in The Big Bang Theory 99
Jonathan Lawhead
8 Sheldon, Leonard, and Leslie: The Three Faces of Quantum Gravity 112
Andrew Zimmerman Jones
9 The One Paradigm to Rule Them All: Scientism and The Big Bang Theory 128
Massimo Pigliucci
10 Cooper Considerations: Science, Religion, and Family 144
Adam Barkman and Dean A. Kowalski
Part Four “I Need Your Opinion On A Matter Of Semiotics”: Language And Meaning
11 Wittgenstein and Language Games in The Big Bang Theory 161
Janelle Pötzsch
12 “I’m Afraid You Couldn’t Be More Wrong!”: Sheldon and Being Right about Being Wrong 175
Adolfas Mackonis
13 The Cooper Conundrum: Good Lord, Who’s Tolerating Whom? 189
Ruth E. Lowe
14 The Mendacity Bifurcation 203
Don Fallis
Part Five “The Human Experience That Has Always Eluded Me”: The Human Condition
15 Mothers and Sons of The Big Bang Theory 219
Ashley Barkman
16 Penny, Sheldon, and Personal Growth through Difference 233
Nicholas G. Evans
17 Deconstructing the Women of The Big Bang Theory: So Much More Than Girlfriends 244
Mark D. White and Maryanne L. Fisher
The Episode Compendium: “Hey, It’s a Big Menu—There’s Two Pages Just for Desserts” 257
Contributors:“But If We Were Part of the Team . . . We Could Drink for Free in Any Bar in Any College Town” 261
Index: “Cornucopia . . . Let’s Make That Our Word of the Day” 267
