The X-Files and Philosophy: The Truth Is in Here
In The X-Files and Philosophy, thirty-six fearless philosophers seek for the truth which is out there, in here, at least somewhere, or (as the postmodernists claim) nowhere. One big issue is whether the weird and unexplained happenings, including the existence of entities unknown to traditional science, might really exist. And if they did, what would be the proper way to behave towards them? Some of these entities seem to flout conventional laws of nature—but perhaps we need to allow for different, as yet undiscovered, laws. If such fabulous entities really exist, what do we owe them? And if they don’t exist, why do we imagine they do?
       In The X-Files, regular science is represented by Scully and usually turns out to be wrong, while open-minded credulity or pseudoscience is represented by Mulder and usually turns out to be right, or at least somehow on the right track. Scully demands objective, repeatable evidence, and she usually gets it, with Mulder’s help, in astounding and unwelcome ways. What lessons should we take from the finding of The X-Files that respectable science is nearly always wrong and outrageous speculative imagination nearly always right?
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The X-Files and Philosophy: The Truth Is in Here
In The X-Files and Philosophy, thirty-six fearless philosophers seek for the truth which is out there, in here, at least somewhere, or (as the postmodernists claim) nowhere. One big issue is whether the weird and unexplained happenings, including the existence of entities unknown to traditional science, might really exist. And if they did, what would be the proper way to behave towards them? Some of these entities seem to flout conventional laws of nature—but perhaps we need to allow for different, as yet undiscovered, laws. If such fabulous entities really exist, what do we owe them? And if they don’t exist, why do we imagine they do?
       In The X-Files, regular science is represented by Scully and usually turns out to be wrong, while open-minded credulity or pseudoscience is represented by Mulder and usually turns out to be right, or at least somehow on the right track. Scully demands objective, repeatable evidence, and she usually gets it, with Mulder’s help, in astounding and unwelcome ways. What lessons should we take from the finding of The X-Files that respectable science is nearly always wrong and outrageous speculative imagination nearly always right?
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The X-Files and Philosophy: The Truth Is in Here

The X-Files and Philosophy: The Truth Is in Here

The X-Files and Philosophy: The Truth Is in Here

The X-Files and Philosophy: The Truth Is in Here

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Overview

In The X-Files and Philosophy, thirty-six fearless philosophers seek for the truth which is out there, in here, at least somewhere, or (as the postmodernists claim) nowhere. One big issue is whether the weird and unexplained happenings, including the existence of entities unknown to traditional science, might really exist. And if they did, what would be the proper way to behave towards them? Some of these entities seem to flout conventional laws of nature—but perhaps we need to allow for different, as yet undiscovered, laws. If such fabulous entities really exist, what do we owe them? And if they don’t exist, why do we imagine they do?
       In The X-Files, regular science is represented by Scully and usually turns out to be wrong, while open-minded credulity or pseudoscience is represented by Mulder and usually turns out to be right, or at least somehow on the right track. Scully demands objective, repeatable evidence, and she usually gets it, with Mulder’s help, in astounding and unwelcome ways. What lessons should we take from the finding of The X-Files that respectable science is nearly always wrong and outrageous speculative imagination nearly always right?

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780812699586
Publisher: Open Court Publishing Company
Publication date: 05/16/2017
Series: Popular Culture and Philosophy , #108
Pages: 288
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Robert Arp holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy. He is the author of Scenario Visualization (2008) and co-author of three books including What's Good on TV (2011) and Philosophy DeMYSTifieD (2001). He is the editor of 1001 Ideas that Changed the Way We Think (2013) and co-editor of at least a dozen other books, including Batman and Philosophy (2008), South Park and Philosophy: You Know I Learned Something Today (2006), Breaking Bad and Philosophy (2012), and Downton Abbey and Philosophy.

Table of Contents

X-Philes and X-Philosophy Robert Arp ix

I Mulder or Scully? 1

1 Why Scully Is Usually Wrong Steven B. Cowan 3

2 Trust No One … But Yourself Kyle A. Hammonds 11

3 Scientist versus Pseudoscientist Daniel Malloy 19

4 Science and the Fantastic Marc W. Cole 29

5 Mulder's Metaphysics Elizabeth F. Cooke 37

II Here Be Monsters 45

6 The Great Mutato and Biotechnology Richard Bilsker 47

7 Monstrous Fear Andrea Zanin 55

8 Five Ways of Being a Monster David Freeman 63

III It's a Conspiracy 71

9 How to Be a Good Conspiracy Theorist Diane Gall 73

10 They're Out to Get Us William Rodriguez 81

11 The Conspiracy Is Real Charlene Elsby Rob Luzecky 93

IV Governments Do Bad Stuff 101

12 Dilemmas for Prisoners Dennis Loughrey 103

13 What's Wrong with Experimenting on Humans? Rob Luzecky Charlene Elsey 111

14 What They Have Done Christopher Ketcham 119

V Can We Trust Ourselves? 127

15 The Madness of Sneaky Fox John M. Thompson 129

16 Bad Memories in "Bad Blood" Cam Cobb Michael K. Potter 145

17 Monday … Again Jeremy Pierce 153

18 Is Mulder a Philosopher? Neil Mussett 161

VI Elusive Truth 169

19 When Is It Right to Hide the Truth? Jason Walker 171

20 The Truths Are Out There Courtland Lewis 187

21 All Lies Lead to the Truth Scott Bandy Adam Barkman 199

VII Belief and Make-Believe 207

22 I Want to Believe … and That's the Problem S. Evan Kreider 209

23 I Can't Be Sure of Anything Anymore Kevin Meeker 217

24 Not Believing What's Not True Joshua Mugg 225

25 Wanting and Willing to Believe Chris Gavaler Nathaniel Goldberg 233

VIII Fear and Trembling 241

26 Submitting to Superior Aliens Jerold J. Abrams 243

27 Why Are We Afraid? Justin Fetterman 251

28 Come Sweet Death Daniel Malloy 259

IX The Ghost Within 267

29 The Ghost's Right to Life Mirela Fuš Marvin Lee Dupree 269

30 Killer Artificial Intelligence Jai Galliott 275

31 The Ghost Is the Machine Marc W. Cole 283

X From Out There to In Here 291

32 Is The X-Files Bad for Us? Kevin Meeker 293

33 Mulder and Scully You're Late! Tim Jones 301

34 Modernist Hero in a Postmodern Age Karma Waltonen 313

35 Heidegger and The X-Files Frank Scalambrino 321

Bibliography 327

The X-Philes 333

Index 341

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