Books published by Open Court Publishing Co ,U.S.

"The Revolutionary Kant" offers a new appreciation of Kant's classic, arguing that Kant's reform of philosophy was far more radical than has been previously understood. The book examines his proposed revolutionary reform -- to abandon traditional metaphysics and point philosophy in a new direction -- and contends that critics have misrepresented conflicts between Kant and his predecessors. Kant, Bird argues, was not a flawed innovator but an advocate of a new philosophical project, one that began to be appreciated only in the twentieth century.

A superb classroom edition with a detailed introduction and extensive notes by Anthony Flew, author of Hume's Philosophy of Belief. This also includes Hume's autobiography, My Own Life; Hume's An abstract of A Treatise of Human Nature; the key passage Why a Cause is Always Necessary from Hume's Treatise; three letters by Hume, and the famous letter on Hume's death by Adam Smith.

Covering everything from Aristotle to ziti, this title explores such topics as: is Tony Soprano a good man?; is Carmella a feminist?; morally speaking who is the worst person on "The Sopranos"; and is watching "The Sopranos" harmful to your mental or moral health?

A light-hearted introduction to philosophy through the antics of the Simpsons, television's animated family. The contributors discuss the thought of key philosophers including Aristotle, Sartre and Kant, and tackle issues like irony and the meaning of life, and American anti-intellectualism.

This volume asserts that many philosophical controversies really depend upon whether a particular language should be used. The author explores a "Principle of Tolerance", by which everyone is free to mix and match the rules of language.

This title concerns itself with no less than the nature of what is and what it means for something to be what it is. It provides a fresh approach to the basic Western philosophical and psychological issues of identity, determinacy, being, desire, boredom, addiction, love and truth.

Using Jung's approach to dreams and myths, analyst Steven Galipeau discusses the symbolism and meaning embedded in "Star Wars", George Lucas's modern fairytale. He covers issues such as the battle between light femininity and dark masculinity, and the conflict between nature and technology.

As an alternative to the view that everything from "abstract art" and "performance art" to "hyperfiction" and "chance music" can be considered art, this text explores the philosophy of art of the author Ayn Rand, which offers an analysis of the cognitive and emotional function of art.

In Guerrilla Metaphysics, Graham Harman develops further the object-oriented philosophy first proposed in Tool-Being. Today’s fashionable philosophies often treat metaphysics as a petrified relic of the past, and hold that future progress requires an ever further abandonment of all claims to discuss reality in itself. Guerrilla Metaphysics makes the opposite assertion, challenging the dominant "philosophy of access" (both continental and analytic) that remains quarantined in discussions of language, perception, or literary texts. Philosophy needs a fresh resurgence of the things themselves—not merely the words or appearances themselves. Once these themes are adapted to the needs of an object-oriented philosophy, what emerges is a brand new type of metaphysics—a "guerrilla metaphysics."

Providing an introduction to Niklas Luhmann's social system theory, this work integrates various schools of thought, including sociology, philosophy and biology. It provides an analysis of "world society", and focuses on the relevance of Luhmann's theory with respect to globalization, electronic mass media, ethics, and various forms of protest.

This text explores how avant-garde rock emerged from the social and political upheaval of the 1960s - the same time in which rock music was becoming a more universal musical language, strongly associated with youth culture. The book traces the evolution of the musical genre to the present day.

This collection of essays tackle philosophical questions from these blockbuster films, pondering such issues as whether Anakin as predestined to fall to the Dark Side, if the Jedi are truly role models of moral virtue, and the meaning of being mindful of the "living force."

A thought-provoking collection of essays explores the philosophical side of the comic book world, collecting the contributions of sixteen philosophers on a variety of subjects, including evil, justice, metaphysics, and the limits of violence. Original.

Throughout the 1970s, no style of pop music was more controversial than progressive rock, and no progressive rock band was more controversial than Emerson, Lake and Palmer. The group's imaginative fusion of rock, jazz, and classical motifs with cutting-edge technology, breathtaking virtuosity, and monumental stage shows made them hugely popular on both sides of the Atlantic -- and gave rise to a host of detractors. In "Endless Enigma, " Edward Macan argues that ELP was an important contributor not only to progressive rock, but to 1970s rock in general. Besides a magisterial band biography, Macan provides a comprehensive critical examination of the band's music and, in particular, its best albums, such as "Brain Salad Surgery, " which addressed technology's role in fostering societal alienation and totalitarianism. His analyses are so perceptive, precise, and detailed, that listening to the recordings in conjunction with his comments opens new avenues of thought about the band and its music.

From the 1970s cult TV show, Monty Python's Flying Circus, to the current hit musical Spamalot, the Monty Python comedy troupe has been at the center of popular culture and entertainment. The Pythons John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam are increasingly recognized and honored for their creativity and enduring influence in the worlds of comedy and film. Monty Python and Philosophy extends that recognition into the world of philosophy. Fifteen experts in topics like mythology, Buddhism, feminism, logic, ethics, and the philosophy of science bring their expertise to bear on Python movies such as Monty Python's Life of Brian and Flying Circus mainstays such as the Argument Clinic, the Dead Parrot Sketch, and, of course, the Bruces, the Pythons' demented, song-filled vision of an Australian philosophy department. Monty Python and Philosophy follows the same hit format as the other titles in this popular series and explains all the philosophical concepts discussed in laymen's terms.

One of the world's most influential logicians, Jaakko Hintikka is a leading figure on the international philosophical scene. Here, he responds to his critics. The 27 critical and descriptive essays in this book, written by important scholars from a variety of fields, challenge Hintikka's innovations in philosophy, logic, and linguistics. His replies, and the essays themselves, all previously unpublished, form a lively, provocative exchange of ideas. Also included is an intellectual autobiography and a complete bibliography of Hintikka's writings.

In the tradition of classic horror films, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" addresses ethical issues that have long fascinated audiences. This collection features 23 essays by young professional philosophers that examine crucial ethical and metaphysical aspects of the "Buffyverse" (the world of Buffy).

The contributors to this text refute the "lone nut" theory surrounding Lee Harvey Oswald and the assassination of President Kennedy. They present physical evidence, autopsy findings, bullet trajectories and eye-witness accounts in support of a conspiracy theory and cover-up.

Jimmy Buffett and his music have touched the lives of millions of people around the world, spanning generations and genres. But is Buffett's music just a good time, or is there a deeper level to it? "Jimmy Buffett and Philosophy" shows the philosophical side of this self-proclaimed non-philosopher's work. The articles in this book provide an accessible approach to thinking about Buffett's music philosophically and to thinking about philosophy from the perspective of Jimmy Buffett's music. Along the way, questions are raised about figures in the philosophical tradition from ancient to contemporary -- Epicurus, Diogenes, Heidegger, Josiah Royce, William James, John Dewey, and Judith Butler. In addition, questions about a wide range of traditional philosophical issues, including aesthetic theory, identity, knowledge, culture, and being, are explored.

Fifteen witty, thought-provoking essays discuss hidden issues in James Bond's world, from his carnal pleasures to his license to kill. Among the lively topics explored are Bond's relation to existentialism, his objectification of women, and more. A reference guide to all the Bond movies rounds out the book.

This volume looks at the deeper issues raised by "The Lord of the Rings" such as: can political power be wielded for good, or must it always corrupt? Does technology destroy the truly human? Is it morally wrong to give up hope? and Can we find meaning in chance events?

A study of the collective belief in the end of the world, as described in the biblical book of Revelation. The author argues that this real psychological force is vitally important for our times, and offers a radical alternative to catastrophe through understanding the meaning of these scriptures.

The cult sci-fi movie, "The Matrix", presented a fake world made of nothing but perceptions. This text contains 20 essays on philosophical problems raised by the film, which focus on the issue, "Can we be sure the world is really there, and if not, what should we do about it?".

Here, psychologists, psychiatrists and other leading experts who disagree with Thomas Szasz-s views on specific issues explain their reasons, with no holds barred, and Szasz replies cogently and pungently to each of them.

This is a translation of Patocka's final work in which he treats prehistory through the concepts of Husserl and Heidegger. He believes the technological society to be decadent, and in the 20th century, war has become the basic reality which prevails through apparent "peace".