Description

Book Synopsis

A philosophical exploration of the entire seven-book Harry Potter series

Harry Potter has been heralded as one of the most popular book series of all time and the philosophical nature of Harry, Hermione, and Ron''s quest to rid the world of its ultimate evil is one of the many things that make this series special. The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy covers all seven titles in J.K. Rowling''s groundbreaking series and takes fans back to Godric''s Hollow to discuss life after death, to consider what moral reasoning drove Harry to choose death, and to debate whether Sirius Black is a man or a dog.

With publication timed to coincide with the release of the movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1), this book will be the definitive guide for all fans looking to appreciate the series on a deeper level.

  • Covers a range of intriguing topics such as the redemption of Severus Snape, the power of love, and destiny in the wiza

    Trade Review
    'Packed with interesting ideas and insights...an ideal companion for anyone interested in unraveling the subtext and exploring the greater issues.' (Planet-Print Blog.com, July 2011).

    Table of Contents

    FOREWORD BY TOM MORRIS xi

    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Some House Points I’d Like to Award xv

    Introduction: Harry Potter and the Enchantment of Philosophy 1

    PART ONE THE HORCRUX OF THE MATTER: DESTINY, IDENTITY, AND THE SOUL

    1 The Soul in Harry Potter 7
    Scott Sehon

    2 Sirius Black: Man or Dog? 22
    Eric Saidel

    3 Destiny in the Wizarding World 35
    Jeremy Pierce

    PART TWO THE MOST POWERFUL MAGIC OF ALL

    4 Choosing Love: The Redemption of Severus Snape 53
    Catherine Jack Deavel and David Paul Deavel

    5 Love Potion No. 9¾ 66
    Gregory Bassham

    6 Harry Potter, Radical Feminism, and the Power of Love 80
    Anne Collins Smith

    PART THREE POTTERWATCH: FREEDOM AND POLITICS

    7 Patriotism, House Loyalty, and the Obligations of Belonging 97
    Andrew P. Mills

    8 Dumbledore’s Politics 113
    Beth Admiraal and Regan Lance Reitsma

    9 Dumbledore, Plato, and the Lust for Power 128
    David Lay Williams and Alan J. Kellner

    PART FOUR THE ROOM OF REQUIREMENT: A POTTER POTPOURRI

    10 Is Dumbledore Gay? Who’s to Say? 143
    Tamar Szabó Gendler

    11 Choices vs. Abilities: Dumbledore on Self-Understanding 157
    Gregory Bassham

    12 The Magic of Personal Transformation 172
    S. Joel Garver

    13 Just in Your Head? J. K. Rowling on Separating Reality from Illusion 185
    John Granger with Gregory Bassham

    14 A Pensieve for Your Thoughts? Harry Potter and the Magic of Memory 198
    Amy Kind

    15 A Hogwarts Education: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 212
    Gregory Bassham

    PART FIVE BEYOND THE VEIL: DEATH, HOPE, AND MEANING

    16 The Real Secret of the Phoenix: Moral Regeneration through Death 229
    Charles Taliaferro

    17 Beyond Godric’s Hollow: Life after Death and the Search for Meaning 246
    Jonathan L. Walls and Jerry L. Walls

    18 Why Harry and Socrates Decide to Die: Virtue and the Common Good 258
    Michael W. Austin

    CONTRIBUTORS: The Hogwarts (for Muggles) Faculty 271

    THE MARAUDER ’ S INDEX 279

The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy

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    A Paperback / softback by William Irwin, Gregory Bassham

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      Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc
      Publication Date: 03/09/2010
      ISBN13: 9780470398258, 978-0470398258
      ISBN10: 0470398256
      Also in:
      Philosophy

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      A philosophical exploration of the entire seven-book Harry Potter series

      Harry Potter has been heralded as one of the most popular book series of all time and the philosophical nature of Harry, Hermione, and Ron''s quest to rid the world of its ultimate evil is one of the many things that make this series special. The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy covers all seven titles in J.K. Rowling''s groundbreaking series and takes fans back to Godric''s Hollow to discuss life after death, to consider what moral reasoning drove Harry to choose death, and to debate whether Sirius Black is a man or a dog.

      With publication timed to coincide with the release of the movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1), this book will be the definitive guide for all fans looking to appreciate the series on a deeper level.

      • Covers a range of intriguing topics such as the redemption of Severus Snape, the power of love, and destiny in the wiza

        Trade Review
        'Packed with interesting ideas and insights...an ideal companion for anyone interested in unraveling the subtext and exploring the greater issues.' (Planet-Print Blog.com, July 2011).

        Table of Contents

        FOREWORD BY TOM MORRIS xi

        ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Some House Points I’d Like to Award xv

        Introduction: Harry Potter and the Enchantment of Philosophy 1

        PART ONE THE HORCRUX OF THE MATTER: DESTINY, IDENTITY, AND THE SOUL

        1 The Soul in Harry Potter 7
        Scott Sehon

        2 Sirius Black: Man or Dog? 22
        Eric Saidel

        3 Destiny in the Wizarding World 35
        Jeremy Pierce

        PART TWO THE MOST POWERFUL MAGIC OF ALL

        4 Choosing Love: The Redemption of Severus Snape 53
        Catherine Jack Deavel and David Paul Deavel

        5 Love Potion No. 9¾ 66
        Gregory Bassham

        6 Harry Potter, Radical Feminism, and the Power of Love 80
        Anne Collins Smith

        PART THREE POTTERWATCH: FREEDOM AND POLITICS

        7 Patriotism, House Loyalty, and the Obligations of Belonging 97
        Andrew P. Mills

        8 Dumbledore’s Politics 113
        Beth Admiraal and Regan Lance Reitsma

        9 Dumbledore, Plato, and the Lust for Power 128
        David Lay Williams and Alan J. Kellner

        PART FOUR THE ROOM OF REQUIREMENT: A POTTER POTPOURRI

        10 Is Dumbledore Gay? Who’s to Say? 143
        Tamar Szabó Gendler

        11 Choices vs. Abilities: Dumbledore on Self-Understanding 157
        Gregory Bassham

        12 The Magic of Personal Transformation 172
        S. Joel Garver

        13 Just in Your Head? J. K. Rowling on Separating Reality from Illusion 185
        John Granger with Gregory Bassham

        14 A Pensieve for Your Thoughts? Harry Potter and the Magic of Memory 198
        Amy Kind

        15 A Hogwarts Education: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 212
        Gregory Bassham

        PART FIVE BEYOND THE VEIL: DEATH, HOPE, AND MEANING

        16 The Real Secret of the Phoenix: Moral Regeneration through Death 229
        Charles Taliaferro

        17 Beyond Godric’s Hollow: Life after Death and the Search for Meaning 246
        Jonathan L. Walls and Jerry L. Walls

        18 Why Harry and Socrates Decide to Die: Virtue and the Common Good 258
        Michael W. Austin

        CONTRIBUTORS: The Hogwarts (for Muggles) Faculty 271

        THE MARAUDER ’ S INDEX 279

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