Aug 12, 2012 homeric poems and philosophy out of all the homeric poems, the iliad and the odyssey remain to be the most welldiscussed works of literature. A british university is to use us cartoon the simpsons to teach students philosophy in a new course. Take, for example, the classic episode homer badman, where the eponymous. The simpsons and philosophy by william irwin, 9780812694338, available at book depository with free. Glasgow university offers a simpsons philosophy class and. An essay called homer and aristotle would appear to be a treatise on two ancient greek thinkers. This unconventional and lighthearted introduction to the ideas of the major western philosophers examines the simpsons tvs favorite animated family. Skoble, each of whom also wrote one of the eighteen essays in the book the book was released on february 28, 2001, as the second volume. Skoble, each of whom also wrote one of the eighteen essays in the book. To grab students attention, many find they must integrate tv and movies into the curriculum.
Nov 16, 2004 it connects the familiar with the unfamiliar, says tim hunter, a philosophy lecturer at mississippi state university, who plans to use homer simpson to explain aristotles philosophy. Mar 16, 2003 the germ of shores brainstorm came in 2001, after he thumbed through a thick paperback at the bookstore called the simpsons and philosophy. Feb 28, 2001 the simpsons and philosophy collects 18 essays into an unpretentious, tongueincheek and surprisingly intelligent look at philosophy through the lens of matt groenings vaunted animated series. These are the kind of meaty philosophical issues tv viewers can expect to find covered by the 21 contributors to this entertaining book, with interpretations drawn. Why homer simpson is our greatest philosopher the sun. The simpsons is one of the most literary and intelligent comedies on television today fertile.
The politics of departure and return, by patrick j. The simpsons and philosophy open court publishing company. Deneen appropriates homer for political philosophy while not losing sight of the fact that the homeric legacy has many other dimensions. For books that appear in episodes, comics and other simpsons media, see the books category. A oneday course in the wisdom of springfield is an ideal way to introduce the subject homer simpson vs standpoint theory the episode. The authors look beyond the jokes, the crudeness, the attacks on society and see a clever display of irony, social criticism, and philosophical thought. You can now study homer simpson philosophy at university.
Nov 22, 2016 glasgow, scotland one of the uks top universities will next year offer a philosophy class based on iconic american television show the simpsons. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the simpsons and philosophy. Homer is a nonfiction book analyzing the philosophy and popular culture effects of the american animated sitcom the simpsons, published by open court. Just in case you had any doubts about how many levels the simpsons actually functions on, this book should put them to rest. How many philosophers does it take to write a book about the simpsons. Sep 10, 2015 homer simpson, star wars yoda and even ricky gervais character from sitcom the office make the cut. Just in case you had any doubts about how many levels the simpsons actually functions on, this book. The writers begin with an examination of the characters. Believe it or not, this coming saturday marks the 62nd birthday of fourfingered, donutloving, beerdrinking comedy icon homer simpson. Sep 09, 2019 the greek poet homer is credited with being the first to write down the epic stories of the iliad and the odyssey, and the impact of his tales continues to reverberate through western culture. The authors look beyond the jokes, the crudeness, the attacks on society and see a clever display of irony, social criticism, and philosophical th. Glasgow university offers homer simpson philosophy class.
In season four episode duffless, the simpsons sluggish. Discover and share homer simpson quotes philosophy. Homers works have been an essential feature of western education from ancient to modern times. Simpsons creator matt groening was himself a philosophy student. Glasgow university offers a simpsons philosophy class. He wishes to avoid both mere pious praise of homer as the source of all wisdom in a seamlessly unfolding western. But that legacy does have political import, as any reader of the platonic dialogues will know.
He appears on the bible timeline with world history during the eighth century bc, which is during the times of the kings of israel. Homeric poems and philosophy amazing bible timeline with. Homer held over 188 different jobs in the first 400 episodes of the simpsons. Homer and his family made their debut in the us in 1987, and the cartoon has since become americas longestrunning sitcom. Each essay provides a hilarious but incisive springboard to some aspect of philosophy. The characters, themes, ethics and the simpsons and philosophers. Irwin, william is the author of simpsons and philosophy the doh. Now available in kindle format on the simpsons is one of the most literary and intelligent comedies on television todayfertile ground for questions such as. But thats not so bad, considering it takes 300 people 8 months, at a cost of 1. The simpsons and philosophy a group of philosophers examines the simpsons beyond the jokes, the crudeness, and the attacks on societyas a clever display of irony, social criticism, and philosophical thought. It connects the familiar with the unfamiliar, says tim hunter, a philosophy lecturer at mississippi state university, who plans to use homer simpson to explain aristotles philosophy. The simpsons and philosophy has a lot to say about the simpsons, and even more to say about philosophy. The simpsons and philosophy course at the university of california, berkeley was founded in 2003, and since then has been offered to thousands of students over the years. The purpose of the course is to offer students an introductory look into philosophy, provided in a uniquely fun and engaging way through the simpsons.
The answer to lifes problems arent at the bottom of a bottle, theyre. The doh of homer is compilation of simpsonian essays written by working philosophers as far as i can tell, working philosopher is an oxymoron on various subjects. Nov 16, 2016 homer simpson is now the subject of a college philosophy course the simpsons is one of the modern worlds greatest cultural artefacts partly because it is so full of philosophy. Glasgow university will examine the wisdom of homer simpson and his family alongside the words. The book collects 18 essays into an unpretentious, tongueincheek, and surprisingly intelligent look at philosophy through the lens of matt groenings vaunted animated series. Homer jay simpson is a fictional character and the protagonist of the american animated sitcom the simpsons. Review of seinfeld and philosophy and the simpsons and. Glasgow university offers homer simpson philosophy class, a new oneday course on the simpsons and philosophy will be offered in january 2017.
Hes the goofy, simpleminded character from the simpsons. Today only the iliad and odyssey are associated with the name homer. Homer simpson teaches glasgow universitys philosophy. The simpsons reaches a milestone 500th episode next sunday. The title is a satirical allusion to the chinese philosophical work, the tao te ching of lao tzu.
The editors are quick to point out that they dont think the simpsons is the equivalent of historys best works of literaturebut it nevertheless is. Through all his attempts, hes doled out his best business. Aug 05, 2017 here is some pretty interesting news from scotland. Homer was created and designed by cartoonist matt groening while he was waiting in the lobby of james l. Large selection and many more categories to choose from. Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love. University launches homer simpson philosophy course. They begin with an examination of the simpson family, examine the ethics and themes of the show, and conclude with discussions of how the series reflects the work of aristotle, marx. Homer simpson is now the subject of a college philosophy. Skoble, each of whom wrote one of the eighteen essays in the book. 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 shows viewers to some of the basic elements of philosophical inquiry. The two earliest books in open courts series were seinfeld and philosophy irwin, 1999 and the simpsons and philosophy irwin, conard, and skoble, 2001. In most episodes, he works as the nuclear safety inspector at the springfield nuclear power plant, a position he has. Of homer edited by william irwin, mark conard, and aeon skoble volume 2 in the popular culture and philosophy series.
A serial entrepreneur, homer has tried and failed at many businesses. In antiquity, a very large number of other works were sometimes attributed to him, including the homeric hymns, the contest of homer and hesiod, the little iliad, the nostoi, the thebaid, the cypria, the epigoni, the comic miniepic batrachomyomachia the frogmouse war, the margites, the capture of oechalia, and the. Homers odyssey berkeley course uses the simpsons to. Homer and political philosophy the imaginative conservative. This book is a great place to begin any program in simpsons studies. Patrick deneen, an assistant professor of political science at princeton university, sets out in this book to assess the contemporary relevance of the homeric legacy, especially the odyssey. In that sense, philosophy always describes a kind of cartoon world.
Character profile for homer simpson from the simpsons and. He is voiced by dan castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in the tracey ullman show short good night on april 19, 1987. Homer simpson philosophy offered at university of glasgow. The simpsons and philosophy philosophy and culture. This unconventional and lighthearted introduction to t. The list, which was published to illustrate the merging of pop culture and philosophy. The character of homer simpson was, in part, named after the ancient greek poet homer. Nov 16, 2016 philosophy always takes place in a kind of cartoon world. Glasgow university offers a simpsons philosophy class and it. Im no supervising technician, im a technical supervisor.