Big Bang Theory and Philosophy

Dean A. Kowalski is an associate professor of philosophy at University of Wisconsin-Waukesha and the author of five books, most recently Moral Theory at the Movies and The Philosophy of Joss Whedon.William Irwin is a professor of philosophy at King's College, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books as coeditor of the bestselling The Simpsons and Philosophy and has overseen recent titles including House and Philosophy, Batman and Philosophy, and Inception and Philosophy.

“If you’re looking for a straight discussion of philosophy try reading Frederick Copleston’s The History of Philosophy, but if you’re open to learning in a fun environment try this book.   Just remember that this book is first of all a study of philosophy geared to the non-specialist.  The by-product of the book is that you will deepen your understanding of and engagement with the characters in these shows.”  (Ponderings on a Faith Journey, 10 August 2012)

• Acknowledgments ixIntroduction: “Unraveling the Mysteries” 1Part One “It All Began On A Warm Summer’s Evening In Greece”: Aristotelian Insights1 Aristotle on Sheldon Cooper: Ancient Greek Meets Modern Geek 7Greg Littmann2 “You’re a Sucky, Sucky Friend”: Seeking Aristotelian Friendship in The Big Bang Theory 21Dean A. Kowalski3 The Big Bang Theory on the Use and Abuse of Modern Technology 35Kenneth Wayne Sayles IIIPart Two “Is It Wrong To Say I Love Our Killer Robot?”: Ethics And Virtue4 Feeling Bad about Feeling Good: Is It Morally Wrong to Laugh at Sheldon? 51W. Scott Clifton5 . . . But Is Wil Wheaton Evil? 65Donna Marie Smith6 Do We Need a Roommate Agreement?: Pleasure, Selfishness, and Virtue in The Big Bang Theory 80Gregory L. Bock and Jeffrey L. BockPart Three “Perhaps You Mean A Different Thing Than I Do When You Say ‘Science’”: Science, Scientism, And Religion7 Getting Fundamental about Doing Physics in The Big Bang Theory 99Jonathan Lawhead8 Sheldon, Leonard, and Leslie: The Three Faces of Quantum Gravity 112Andrew Zimmerman Jones9 The One Paradigm to Rule Them All: Scientism and The Big Bang Theory 128Massimo Pigliucci10 Cooper Considerations: Science, Religion, and Family 144Adam Barkman and Dean A. KowalskiPart Four “I Need Your Opinion On A Matter Of Semiotics”: Language And Meaning11 Wittgenstein and Language Games in The Big Bang Theory 161Janelle Pötzsch12 “I’m Afraid You Couldn’t Be More Wrong!”: Sheldon and Being Right about Being Wrong 175Adolfas Mackonis13 The Cooper Conundrum: Good Lord, Who’s Tolerating Whom? 189Ruth E. Lowe14 The Mendacity Bifurcation 203Don FallisPart Five “The Human Experience That Has Always Eluded Me”: The Human Condition15 Mothers and Sons of The Big Bang Theory 219Ashley Barkman16 Penny, Sheldon, and Personal Growth through Difference 233Nicholas G. Evans17 Deconstructing the Women of The Big Bang Theory: So Much More Than Girlfriends 244Mark D. White and Maryanne L. FisherThe Episode Compendium: “Hey, It’s a Big Menu—There’s Two Pages Just for Desserts” 257Contributors:“But If We Were Part of the Team . . . We Could Drink for Free in Any Bar in Any College Town” 261Index: “Cornucopia . . . Let’s Make That Our Word of the Day” 267