{"product_id":"the-witcher-and-philosophy-isbn-9781394168736","title":"The Witcher and Philosophy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEmbark on a revealing philosophical journey through the universe of The Witcher\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If I'm to choose between one evil and another, I'd rather not choose at all,” growls the mutant “witcher,” Geralt of Rivia. Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher books lay bare the adventures of monster hunters like Geralt, who seek to avoid humanity's conflicts and live only for the next kill and the coin that comes with it. But Geralt's destiny is complicated by his relationship with a powerful sorceress, Yennefer of Vengerberg. When he connects with a displaced princess, Ciri, Geralt lands right in the middle of the political conflicts of the Continent, which is endangered by Nilfgaard, a domineering southern kingdom that threatens to conquer the world. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePart of the \u003ci\u003eBlackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, The Witcher and Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e brings on twenty-seven philosophers to test their mettle against werewolves, the bruxa, strigas, vodyanoi, and kikimora; their work addresses the phenomenally popular books, three standalone \u003ci\u003eWitcher\u003c\/i\u003e video games, and the hit Netflix streaming show. These authors pass on their fascination with all manner of horror and sorcery: the mutations that make Geralt and others witchers, the commonalities between the Continent and post-apocalyptic settings, the intricacies of political power and scandal in the world of \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher,\u003c\/i\u003e and reflections of our own world's changing views on race and gender that might offer hope—or portend a grim future. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEngaging and accessible, \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher and Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e considers key themes and questions such as: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eWho is human, and who is a monster?\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eCan Geralt afford to stay neutral?\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eWhat kind of politics do sorceresses engage in?\u003c\/li\u003e  \u003cli\u003eHow many universes converge on the Continent?\u003c\/li\u003e  \u003cli\u003eIf we stare long enough into the abyss, does it stare back into us?\u003c\/li\u003e  \u003cli\u003eSilver or steel?\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e“Destiny is just the embodiment of the soul's desire to grow,” says Jaskier the bard, proving himself to be a natural philosopher. The tales of The Witcher remind us that our lives are a play written by both choice and destiny. And it is your destiny to read and be inspired by \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher and Philosophy.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContributors viii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntroduction: Toss a Coin to Your Witcher . . . and Your Philosopher xiv\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eMatthew Brake\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEthics 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 A Friend of Humanity: On Mercenaries, Mutants, and Morals 3\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eZachary Vereb\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher’s\u003c\/i\u003e Dilemmas: Genuine or Apparent? 13\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eWalter Barta and Graham Lee\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 Lesser of Two Evils: Deliberation and the Witcher’s Moral Dilemma 22\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eCorey R. Horn\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 Friendship in the Wild: Kant, the Witcher, and Curiosity 30\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eCisil Vardar\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFree Will and Existentialism 37\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 Destiny, Fate, and the Law of Surprise: Determinism, Free Will, and \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e 39\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eGraham Lee Copyrighted Material\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 Compatibilism and the Law of Surprise: Myth, Free Will, Destiny, and Hedgehogs 48\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eShane J. Ralston\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 Silver or Steel?: Rethinking Rational Choice in an Irrational World 55\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eErin Williams and Darian J. Shump\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 Nothing Is Ever Black and White: Existentialism in \u003ci\u003eWitcher 3: The Wild Hunt\u003c\/i\u003e 63\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eTim Miechels\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFeminism 71\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 “This Is the Version of Myself I Have to Be”: Understanding Yennefer’s Feminism(s) 73\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eEdwardo Pérez\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 “They Took My Choice, I Want It Back”: Infertility in \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e 84\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eZoe L. Tongue\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 Ciri’s Agency and Autonomy: Princess, Sorceress, and Witcher Girl 92\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eEmily Vega and Walter Barta\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRace and Culture 101\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 Race and Racism in the World of \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e 103\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eGerald Browning\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13 Disadvantage, Demeaning, and Power: Is Geralt of Rivia Being Discriminated Against? 109\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eWulf Loh\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14 “I’m Part Elf, I’m Part Human”: Understanding Racism in \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e 117\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eEdwardo Pérez\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMagic 127\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15 Magic and the Elder Speech in \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e 129\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eAndriy Ivanchenko\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 Worlds within Words: Names and Naming in \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e 137\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eFiona Tomkinson\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e17 Between Two Camps in the Swamps of Velen: Platonism and Naturalism in the Worlds of \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e 146\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eSteven Kammerer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e18 “Witch Hunts Will Never Be About Witches”: Scapegoating and Stereotypes of Persecution 156\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eRyan Smock\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePostmodernism 165\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e19 \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e as Postmodern Fairytale 167\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eEmily Vega and Walter Barta\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 Shocks of Destiny: \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher’s\u003c\/i\u003e Unlawful Surprise 177\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eCorry Shores\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e21 Post-Apocalyptic Prognostications in \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e 184\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eMatthew Crippen\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePolitical Philosophy 195\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e22 King Foltest, John Locke, and Political Sovereignty in Temeria 197\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eJohn P. Irish\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 Stolen Mutagens and Frustrated Neutrality: Carl Schmitt and “the Political” in \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e 205\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eFlorian R.R. van der Zee\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e24 Sometimes You Have to Pick Sides: Against Geralt’s Neutrality 214\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eMatthew Brake\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMonsters 223\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e25 Origin and Desires as Monster Makers in \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e 225\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eJulie Loveland Swanstrom and Victoria Lyle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e26 \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e and the Monstrous Feminine 236\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eYael Cameron\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e27 The Dialectics of Monstrosity 244\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003ePaul Giladi\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 253\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMATTHEW BRAKE\u003c\/b\u003e is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Northern Virginia Community College in Manassas, Virginia. He is a contributor to the \u003ci\u003eWonder Woman and Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eDoctor Strange and Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e volumes. He is also the series editor of the \u003ci\u003eTheology, Religion, and Pop Culture \u003c\/i\u003eseries from Fortress Academic and the forthcoming \u003ci\u003eReligion and Comics \u003c\/i\u003eseries from McFarland. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKEVIN S. DECKER\u003c\/b\u003e is Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Washington University near Spokane, Washington. He is the editor of \u003ci\u003eDune and Philosophy \u003c\/i\u003eand co-editor (with Jason T. Eberl) of \u003ci\u003eStar Wars and Philosophy Strikes Back\u003c\/i\u003e. He has edited or co-edited eleven other anthologies of popular culture and philosophy. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eWho is Who? The Philosophy of Doctor Who\u003c\/i\u003e.   \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWho is human, and who is a monster? \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCan Geralt afford to stay neutral? \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat kind of politics do sorceresses engage in? \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow many universes converge on the Continent? \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIf we stare long enough into the abyss, does it stare back into us? \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSilver or steel? \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If I’m to choose between one evil and another, I’d rather not choose at all,” growls the mutant “witcher,” Geralt of Rivia. Andrzej Sapkowski’s \u003ci\u003eWitcher\u003c\/i\u003e books lay bare the adventures of monster hunters like Geralt, who seek to avoid humanity’s conflicts and live only for the next kill and the coin that comes with it. But Geralt’s destiny is complicated by his relationship with a powerful sorceress, Yennefer of Vengerberg. When he connects with a displaced princess, Ciri, Geralt lands right in the middle of the political conflicts of the Continent, which is endangered by Nilfgaard, a domineering southern kingdom that threatens to conquer the world.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePart of\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003ethe\u003ci\u003e Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture \u003c\/i\u003eseries\u003ci\u003e, The Witcher and Philosophy \u003c\/i\u003ebrings on twenty-seven philosophers to test their mettle against werewolves, the bruxa, strigas, vodyanoi, and kikimora; their work addresses the phenomenally popular books, three standalone \u003ci\u003eWitcher \u003c\/i\u003evideo games, and the hit Netflix show. These authors pass on their fascination with all manner of horror and sorcery: the mutations that make Geralt and others witchers, the commonalities between the Continent and post-apocalyptic settings, the intricacies of political power and scandal in the world of \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e, and reflections of our own world’s changing views on race and gender that might offer hope—or portend a grim future.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Destiny is just the embodiment of the soul’s desire to grow,” says Jaskier the bard, proving himself to be a natural philosopher. The tales of \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher \u003c\/i\u003eremind us that our lives are a play written by both choice and destiny. And it is your destiny to read and be inspired by \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher and Philosophy.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wiley-Blackwell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47990374236389,"sku":"NP9781394168736","price":21.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781394168736.jpg?v=1761787565","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/the-witcher-and-philosophy-isbn-9781394168736","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}