The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer (Popular Culture and Philosophy, 2)

Having lasted over fifteen years in the flavor-of-the-month-seeking world of television and overcome the objections of every idiot who dismissed it as lowbrow, The Simpsons has by now earned the status of an American institution, right up there with baseball, apple pie, and lying politicians. With its enormous cast and the freedom that comes from its animated format, The Simpsons has become sort of a funhouse mirror for us all, reflecting and distorting the stupidity, shallow thinking, and hyprocrisy that are and probably always have been a part of everyday life. Making constant use of irony, allusion, and satire, The Simpsons has also garnered from some the title of TV's smartest show, a claim I'd have a hard time disputing. It's one of the few shows that give its audience some credit, assuming they have a basic grasp of history and literature and can grasp a joke that doesn't involve bodily functions or ethnic stereotypes.So, you might ask, what does this long-winded introduction have to do with anything? Well, it helps to explain why a bunch of professional philosphers saw fit to give The Simpsons its own philosophy book, entitled, appropriately enough, The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer. Just in case you had any doubts about how many levels The Simpsons actually functions on, this book should put them to rest. The Simpsons and Philosophy is an expansive, comprehensive collection of (generally) highly accessible essays written by philosophy professors trying to use their love and knowledge of the Simpsons to introduce the show's viewers to some of the basic elements of philosophical inquiry. The editors state flat out that they're not out to analyze the philosophical messages (if any) of Matt Groening & Co., but to use their discussions of the Simpsons as a springboard to get readers to delve deeper into philosophy themselves.On that level at least, the book is certainly a success. These essays are consistently fascinating, connecting the show's messages to the thought of such heavyweights as Heidegger, Marx, Aristotle, Neitzsche, and Kant. If you're a philosophical type, and you've been an enthusiastic Simpons-phile for as long as I have (I still have memories of watching the premiere of the first episode back when I was a lad of ten), you've probably watched most of the episodes so many times that you can dissect them at will, but this book still provides some nice reminders of why the show is so funny and holds up so well to repeated viewings.The show's much-discussed satirical edge naturally gets a great deal of attention here, but the book attempts to go deeper in examining the messages the show sends out. For example, one particularly interesting essay, Paul A. Cantor's The Simpsons: Atomistic Politics and the Nuclear Family, raises a point that proves indisputable whether you've noticed it or not: even as the Simpsons relentlessly parodies every dearly held institution under the sun, from the family to government to religion, it constantly reaffirms their primacy in American life. In a time of ever-increasing centralization and standardization, this essay argues, The Simpsons manages to remind people of the importance of the family and of local institutions. Another highlight, James Wallace's A (Karl, not Groucho) Marxist in Springfield, takes that claim in an even bolder direction, arguing that The Simpsons's scattershot, equal-opportunity approach dulls its satirical effect and makes it just another perpetuator of the status quo of consumerism and exploitation. You don't have to be a Marxist (I'm certainly not) to see his point.There's a lot more where that came from, as well. Citing tons of specific examples, other highlights include discussions of what the show has to tell us about the Kantian notion of the moral life; what Mr. Burns has to tell us about the nature of happiness; how Lisa's experiences exemplify contemporary America's ambivalent attitudes toward intellectuals; whether Bart is a Nietzshcean overman; and just how ironic The Simpsons actually is. As you may have gathered from the foregoing (woefully incomplete) list, The Simpsons and Philosophy hardly limits its scope to philosophy itself; instead it's a thoroughgoing examination not just of how The Simpsons reflects certain philosophical themes but of how it mirrors the time, place, and culture in which we live. In other words, this book is far more than a dry philosophical inquiry; it's a cultural document in its own right, using the Funniest Show Ever to further illuminate the aspects of society that The Simpsons so sharply lampoons. Needless to say, all Simpsons fanatics should check it out.

Almost everyone is a Simpsons fan of one degree or another - everything from complete devotion to the occasional viewer. This book is truly for those who have watched the Simpsons and wondered about the archetypal structure of the family, the Power Plant and the town of Springfield. If that idea interests you, you should have this book. If you think that sounds like a bunch of hooey, then don't buy this book. If you are a rabid fan who must have every piece of Simpsonsphilia, buy several copies.It is a fun read for those who are interested in such things as both philosophy and The Simpsons, but I stress BOTH. You don't need a philosophy degree to read it, but you should have some interest in/and grounding in philosophy. Similarly, you should have a solid grasp of the Simpsons show, and the characters. I think this would be a bit dry for the casual Simpsons fan and bit lightweight for the ultra philosophical. But just right for a lot of us, and fun to read to boot!Some of the chapters include:Homer and AristotleLisa and American Anti-intellectualismThus Spake Bart: On Nietzche and the Vitues of Being BadEnjoying the So-Called "Iced Cream": Mr. Burns, Satan, and HappinessI had a very good time reading this book, and I do wish I had owned it while I was in college. It might have helped me digest Roland Barthes a little easier. Enjoy!

I reread this book recently on my Kindle (had the original paperback) and found it still one of the best examples of how one can use pop culture to introduce a broader audience to philosophy. There is no denying that the Simpsons has been one of the best shows on American tv for the past couple of decades, and it is so intelligently done that pretty much every major issue in philosophy can be introduced by example, picking on the right Simpsons' episode or character. Of course, as always with edited books, the writing is uneven, with some chapters barely worth a look (the one on Heidegger, for instance). But the editors pulled this off very nicely nonetheless, and in fact the whole idea eventually flourished in a large series of available titles with a similar scope. The book could also be used in introductory philosophy classes to show the students the obvious truth: philosophy is highly relevant to everyday life, and it can even be fun!

The Simpsons and Philosphy, is an interesting look into not only the ficticious characters of Springfield, but as a reflection on American life as well.Not only is there a great debate about the characters and their many flaws, but there are also some insightful ideas about them as well; for example, Marge and Aristotle's virtue ethics.Alot of it seemed to be based in pop culture, an it also seemed to be repetitve at times.The most disapointing thing, is that there are over 30 books in this series, covering eveything from Seinfeld to The Matrix.That being said, it was still an interesting read.

I truly enjoyed reading this book even though I have some understanding regarding philosophy. However, after having read The Simpsons and Philosophy; it has sparked my interest in philosophy, particularly an interest in Frederick Nietzsche. As others have stated, if you have an interest or are familiar with philosophy combined with being a fan of the show; you will find that reading this book is worthy of your time.FYI:I did not get a chance to write a review at the time I purchased and read this book until now.

I really enjoyed reading this work, I have been a loyal fan of the yellow dysfunctional family since I could speak and understand language and reference. The simpsons is an integral part of my generations social and intellectual culture. One of the few inspirational and truly satirical models of the modern age..one of the single possible saviours proffered under the radar to the so called 'MTV generation' ...this book is a great, great thing for anyone who loves both the simpsons, exploring philosophical interpretations and perspectives and of course good language an well chosen and well written words. Kudos to the authors. Delivery was sooner than expected, fantastic thank you. If your ordering this in the uk expect to be travelling to you for a while.

An enjoyable easy introduction to various philosophical ideas using the popular TV programme as a launch pad. Sometimes it goes too much into the philosophy and too far from the TV show, but it's not a bad read all in all. And it has made me think about how popular media expresses societical values in order to engage the viewer, while we remain mostly unaware this is taking place.

Great!

Very funny and very interesting.

My boyfriend really enjoys the connections to his favourite show with philosophical ideologies. Have caught him chuckling at the book a couple of times. Only criticism I have really is the statistics in the first part is a little convoluted and I don’t think the data was properly explained so it seems like one thing but there’s no one that’s possible.