Seinfeld and Philosophy

A Book About Everything and Nothing

Careful scrutiny of the world's most infamous nobodies yields an unlikely survey of key elements of Western philosophy. The subject matter of Irwin's collection--14 essays from philosophy professors who are also Seinfeld aficionados--ranges from Plato to Kierkegaard, George to Elaine, Being to Nothingness in an attempt to flesh out some heavyweight abstractions.

Editions of Seinfeld and Philosophy

ISBN

9780812694093

Binding/Format

Paperback

Publisher

Open Court Pub Co

Date

1999

Price

$8.50

Publisher Notes

Designed for philosophers and general readers with no philosophical background, the essays in this lively guide are grouped into four amusing "acts." Act One looks at the four Seinfeld characters through a philosophical lens and includes "Jerry and Socrates: The Examined Life?" Act Two examines historical philosophers from a Seinfeldian standpoint and offers "Plato or Nietzsche? Time, Essence, and Eternal Recurrence in Seinfeld." Act Three, "Untimely Meditations by the Water Cooler, " explores philosophical issues raised by the show, such as, Is it rational for George to "do the opposite"? And Act Four, "Is There Anything Wrong with That?" discusses ethical problems of everyday life using Seinfeld as a basis.

Media Reviews

"This collection of essays from philosophy professors kills two postmodern problems with one stone: It bridges that irksome gap between sitcoms and existentialist Soren Kierkegaard and masticates 2,000 years of bearded philosophers into contemporary dudes who spout digestible sound bites for today's student...."

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