Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran HogwartsHarry Potter has put a spell on millions of readers, and they all want to find out more about the deeper meaning of his adventures. In Harry Potter and Philosophy, 17 experts in the field of philosophy unlock some of Hogwarts' secret panels, uncovering surprising insights that are enlightening both for wizards and for the most discerning muggles. Individual chapters look at such topics as life revealed in the Mirror of Erised; the ethics of magic; Moaning Myrtle, Nearly Headless Nick, and the relation of the mind to the brain; and the character of Hermione as a case of "sublimated feminism." Also examined in this witty collection are how Aristotle would have run a school for wizards; whether the Potter stories undermine religion and morality; how to tell good people from evil ones through the characters in these novels; and what dementors and boggarts can teach readers about happiness, fear, and the soul. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - dono421846 - LibraryThingInteresting lever by which to introduce some fundamental questions (and occasional answers) in philosophy. Made accessible by drawing upon illustrations from the Harry Potter books (but only through ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - bostonian71 - LibraryThingEntertaining in spots, but overall too lightweight and, oddly enough, too generic to satisfy either philosophy buffs or Harry Potter fans. The best essays are those that tackle a specific topic (such ... Read full review
Other editions - View all
Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts David Baggett,Shawn Klein Limited preview - 2004 |
Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts David Baggett,Shawn E. Klein Limited preview - 2004 |
References to this book
Harry Potter: ein Literatur- und Medienereignis im Blickpunkt ... Christine Garbe Limited preview - 2006 |