"An in-depth look at the philosophical issues behind HBO's Game of Thrones television series and the books that inspired it
George R.R. Martin's New York Times bestselling epic fantasy book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, and the HBO television show adapted from it, have earned critical acclaim and inspired fanatic devotion. This book delves into the many philosophical questions that arise in this complex, character-driven series, including: Is it right for a ""good"" king to usurp the throne of a ""bad"" one and murder his family? How far should you go to protect your family and its secrets? In a fantasy universe with medieval mores and ethics, can female characters reflect modern feminist ideals?
Timed for the premiere of the second season of the HBO Game of Thrones series Gives new perspectives on the characters, storylines, and themes of Game of Thrones Draws on great philosophers from ancient Greece to modern America to explore intriguing topics such as the strange creatures of Westeros, the incestuous relationship of Jaime and Cersei Lannister, and what the kings of Westeros can show us about virtue and honor (or the lack thereof) as they play their game of thrones
Essential reading for fans, Game of Thrones and Philosophy will enrich your experience of your favorite medieval fantasy series."
FOREWORD by Elio M. Garcia and Linda Antonsson ix A RAVE N FROM HOUSE WI LEY: Editor’s Note on Spoilers xiii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: How I Was Spared from Having to Take the Black xv Introduction: So What if Winter Is Coming? 1 Henry Jacoby PART ONE “YOU WIN OR YOU DIE” 1 Maester Hobbes Goes to King’s Landing 5 Greg Littmann 2 It Is a Great Crime to Lie to a King 19 Don Fallis 3 Playing the Game of Thrones: Some Lessons from Machiavelli 33 Marcus Schulzke 4 The War in Westeros and Just War Theory 49 Richard H. Corrigan PART TWO “THE THINGS I DO FOR LOVE” 5 Winter Is Coming!: The Bleak Quest for Happiness in Westeros 63 Eric J. Silverman 6 The Death of Lord Stark: The Perils of Idealism 75 David Hahn 7 Lord Eddard Stark, Queen Cersei Lannister: Moral Judgments from Different Perspectives 87 Albert J. J. Anglberger and Alexander Hieke 8 It Would Be a Mercy: Choosing Life or Death in Westeros and Beyond the Narrow Sea 99 Matthew Tedesco PART THREE “WINTER IS COMING” 9 Wargs, Wights, and Wolves That Are Dire: Mind and Metaphysics, Westeros Style 115 Henry Jacoby 10 Magic, Science, and Metaphysics in A Game of Thrones 129 Edward Cox 11 “You Know Nothing, Jon Snow”: Epistemic Humility Beyond the Wall 142 Abraham P. Schwab 12 “Why Is the World So Full of Injustice?”: Gods and the Problem of Evil 154 Jaron Daniël Schoone PART FOUR “THE MAN WHO PASSES THE SENTENCE SHOULD SWING THE SWORD” 13 Why Should Joffrey Be Moral If He Has Already Won the Game of Thrones? 169 Daniel Haas 14 The Moral Luck of Tyrion Lannister 183 Christopher Robichaud 15 Dany’s Encounter with the Wild: Cultural Relativism in A Game of Thrones 194 Katherine Tullman 16 “There Are No True Knights”: The Injustice of Chivalry 205 Stacey Goguen PART FIVE “STICK THEM WITH THE POINTY END” 17 Fate, Freedom, and Authenticity in A Game of Thrones 223 Michael J. Sigrist 18 No One Dances the Water Dance 236 Henry Jacoby 19 The Things I Do For Love: Sex, Lies, and Game Theory 250 R. Shannon Duval 20 Stop the Madness!: Knowledge, Power, and Insanity in A Song of Ice and Fire 264 Chad William Timm CONTRIBUTORS: The Learned Lords and Ladies from beyond the Seven Kingdoms 279 INDEX: From the Archives at Oldtown 287
