House and Philosophy

ISBN-13: 9780470316603 / Angielski / Miękka / 2008 / 272 str.

William Irwin; Henry Jacoby; William Irwin

Opis

An unauthorized look at the philosophical issues raised by one of today's most popular television shows: House

House is one of the top three television dramas on the air, pulling in more than 19 million viewers for each episode. This latest book in the popular Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series takes a deeper look at the characters and issues raised in this Emmy Award-winning medical drama, offering entertaining answers to the fascinating ethical questions viewers have about Dr. Gregory House and his medical team.

Henry Jacoby (Goldsboro, NC) teaches philosophy at East Carolina University. He has published articles primarily on the philosophy of mind and was a contributor to South Park and Philosophy
(978-1-4051-6160-2).

Spis treści

Acknowledgments.

"Read Less, More TV: A Cranky, Slightly Rude Introduction".

I. "HUMANITY IS OVERRATED." HOUSE ON LIFE.

1. Selfish, Base Animals Crawling Across the Earth: House and the Meaning of Life (Henry Jacoby).

2. House and Sartre: "Hell is Other People" (Jennifer L. McMahon).

3. Is There a Superman in the House? A Nietzchean Point of View (David Goldblatt).

4. House and Moral Luck (Jane Dryden).

II. "WELCOME TO THE END OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS." HOUSE S LOGIC AND METHOD.

5. The Logic of Guesswork in Sherlock Holmes and House, M.D. (Jerold J. Abrams).

6. It Explains Everything (Barbara Anne Stock)!

7. The Sound of One House Clapping: Rude Diagnostician as Zen Rhetorician (Jeffrey C. Ruff and Jeremy Barris).

8. "Being nice is overrated": House and Socrates on the Necessity of Conflict (Melanie Frappier).

9. Is There a Daoist in the House (Peter Vernezze)?

III. "IT IS THE NATURE OF MEDICINE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SCREW UP." HOUSE AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES.

10. "You care for everybody": Cameron s Ethics of Care (Renee Kyle).

11. To Intubate or not to Intubate: House s Principles and Priorities (Barbara Anne Stock and Teresa Blankmeyer Burke).

12. House, M.D., and Medical Paternalism: "You can t always get what you want." (Mark R. Wicclair).

13. If the End Doesn t Justify the Means, Then What Does (Catherine Sartin)?

14. House vs. Tritter: On the Clash of Theoretical and Practical Authority (Kenneth Ehrenberg).

IV. "THE DRUGS DON T MAKE ME HIGH, THEY MAKE ME NEUTRAL." VIRTUES AND CHARACTER ON HOUSE.

15. House and the Virtue of Eccentricity (John R. Fitzpatrick).

16. Love: The Only Risk House Can t Take (Sara Protasi).

17. A Prescription for Friendship (Sara Waller).

18. Diagnosing Character: A House Divided (Heather Battaly and Amy Coplan)?

Contributors: Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital Staff.

Index.

O autorze

HENRY JACOBY teaches philosophy at East Carolina University. He has published articles on the philosophy of mind and contributed to South Park and Philosophy. He lives in Goldsboro, North Carolina, with his wife, Kathryn, and their two cats, Bunkai and Willow.

WILLIAM IRWIN is a professor of philosophy at King′s College, Pennsylvania. He has coedited The Simpsons and Philosophy and edited Seinfeld and Philosophy, The Matrix and Philosophy, and Metallica and Philosophy.

Blurb

Philosophy/Pop Culture

Is being nice overrated?

Are we really just selfish, base animals crawling across Earth in a meaningless existence?

Would reading less and watching more television be good for you?

Is House a master of Eastern philosophy or just plain rude?

Dr. Gregory House is arguably the most complex and challenging antihero in the history of television, but is there more to this self–important genius than gray matter and ego? This book takes a deeper look at House to reveal the philosophical underpinnings of this popular medical drama and its cane–waving curmudgeon′s most outrageous behavior. What emerges is a remarkable character who is part Sherlock Holmes, part Socratic philosopher, part Nietzschean superman, part Taoist rhetorician, and not at all as screwed up as you might think. With everything from Aristotle to Zen, House and Philosophy takes an engaging look at everyone′s favorite misanthropic genius and his team at Princeton–Plainsboro Hospital.