{"product_id":"bioshock-and-philosophy-isbn-9781118915868","title":"BioShock and Philosophy","description":"Considered a sign of the ‘coming of age’ of video games as an artistic medium, the award-winning BioShock franchise covers vast philosophical ground. \u003ci\u003eBioShock and Philosophy: Irrational Game, Rational Book \u003c\/i\u003epresents expert reflections by philosophers (and Bioshock connoisseurs) on this critically acclaimed and immersive fan-favorite.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eReveals the philosophical questions raised through the artistic complexity, compelling characters and absorbing plots of this ground-breaking first-person shooter (FPS)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eExplores what \u003ci\u003eBioShock\u003c\/i\u003e teaches the gamer about gaming, and the aesthetics of video game storytelling\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eAddresses a wide array of topics including Marxism, propaganda, human enhancement technologies, political decision-making, free will, morality, feminism, transworld individuality, and vending machines in the dystopian society of Rapture\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eConsiders visionary game developer Ken Levine’s depiction of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, as well as the theories of Aristotle, de Beauvoir, Dewey, Leibniz, Marx, Plato, and others from the Hall of Philosophical Heroes\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eHacking into This Book (Introduction) vii\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLuke Cuddy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart I Level 1 Research Bonus: Increased Wisdom Capacity 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 \u003ci\u003eBioShock\u003c\/i\u003e’s Meta‐Narrative: What \u003ci\u003eBioShock \u003c\/i\u003eTeaches the Gamer about Gaming 3\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eCollin Pointon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 The Value of Art in \u003ci\u003eBioShock: \u003c\/i\u003eAyn Rand, Emotion, and Choice 15\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eJason Rose\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 SHODAN vs. the Many: Or, Mind vs. the Body 27\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eRobert M. Mentyka\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 “The cage is somber”: A Feminist Understanding of Elizabeth 38\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eCatlyn Origitano\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart II Tears, Time, and Reality 49\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 Rapture in a Physical World: Did Andrew Ryan Choose the Impossible? 51\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eJames Cook\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 Would You Kindly Bring Us the Girl and Wipe Away the Debt: Free Will and Moral Responsibility in \u003ci\u003eBioShock\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eInfinite \u003c\/i\u003e58\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eOliver Laas\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 \u003ci\u003eBioShock \u003c\/i\u003eas Plato’s Cave 69\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eRoger Travis\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 \u003ci\u003eBioShock Infinite \u003c\/i\u003eand Transworld Individuality: Identity across Space and Time 76\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eCharles Joshua Horn\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 Shockingly Limited: Escaping Columbia’s God of Necessity 86\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eScott Squires and James McBain\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart III The “Union” and the Sodom Below 95\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 “The bindings are there as a safeguard”: Sovereignty and Political Decisions in \u003ci\u003eBioShock Infinit\u003c\/i\u003ee 97\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eRick Elmore\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 Propaganda, Lies, and Bullshit in \u003ci\u003eBioShock\u003c\/i\u003e’s Rapture 107\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eRachel McKinnon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 The Vox Populi Group, Marx, and Equal Rights for All 114\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eTyler DeHaven and Chris Hendrickson\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart IV The Circus of Values 127\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13 Infinite Lighthouses, Infinite Stories: \u003ci\u003eBioShock \u003c\/i\u003eand the Aesthetics of Video Game Storytelling 129\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLászló Kajtár\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14 Have You Ever Been to Rapture?: \u003ci\u003eBioShock \u003c\/i\u003eas an Introduction to Phenomenology 139\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eStefan Schevelier\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15 “Evolve today!”: Human Enhancement Technologies in the \u003ci\u003eBioShock \u003c\/i\u003eUniverse 150\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSimon Ledder\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 Vending Machine Values: Buying Beauty and Morality in \u003ci\u003eBioShock \u003c\/i\u003e161\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eMichael J. Muniz\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNotes on Contributors 168\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 173\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLUKE CUDDY\u003c\/b\u003e is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA. He edited \u003ci\u003eThe Legend of Zelda and Philosophy, World of Warcraft and Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eHALO and Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e. An avid guitar player as well as gamer, he continues to annoy his friends with impromptu performances of \"Will the Circle Be Unbroken.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWILLIAM IRWIN\u003c\/b\u003e (series editor) is Professor of Philosophy at King's College, Wilkes-Barre, PA. He originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books as co-editor of the bestselling \u003ci\u003eThe Simpsons and Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e, and has overseen titles including \u003ci\u003eHouse and Philosophy, Batman and Philosophy,\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eVeronica Mars and Philosophy.\u003c\/i\u003e   \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat does BioShock teach the gamer about gaming?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eShould we be able to buy beauty and morality from a vending machine?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs BioShock a legitimate critique of Ayn Rand's philosophy?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDid Booker ever have free will?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWill humans ever be able to shoot lightning out of their hands?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBioShock is a critically acclaimed \"first-person shooter\" video game first released in 2007. While gamers still thrill at taking down a rivet gun–wielding Big Daddy, what truly impresses BioShock aficionados is its incredibly immersive environment—from the atmospheric retro music and chilling audio diaries to a compelling storyline inspired by the controversial philosophy of Ayn Rand. Setting aside the eye-popping visuals of the game's nightmarish underwater dystopia, players must confront a remarkable series of philosophical choices based on morality, free will, and human nature. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBioShock and Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e features a collection of serious philosophical reflections on questions raised during the course of BioShock game play. Various philosophers consider a wide range of thought-provoking topics and ideas, including the accuracy of game developer Ken Levine's depiction of Rand's philosophy. As well as some of humanity's deepest mysteries, other topics include: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eThe ethical concerns raised by the technologically advanced society portrayed in BioShock\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eMarxist philosophy in relation to the underground insurgency of Vox Populi\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eQuestions of identity in relation to body and soul raised by Elizabeth's ability to manipulate tears that exist in the fabric of time\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnd what about the possibility of a future dystopian nightmare created by a real-life Andrew Ryan? If that ever happens, the intriguing philosophical musings of \u003ci\u003eBioShock and Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e may just help prepare us for such a truly frightening scenario. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eConsidered a sign of the \"coming of age\" of video games as an artistic medium, the award-winning BioShock franchise covers vast philosophical ground. \u003ci\u003eBioShock and Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e presents expert reflections by philosophers (and Bioshock connoisseurs) on this critically acclaimed and immersive fan favorite.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wiley-Blackwell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47988841873637,"sku":"NP9781118915868","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781118915868.jpg?v=1761781736","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/bioshock-and-philosophy-isbn-9781118915868","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}