The Ultimate Star Trek And Philosophy

Philosophy/Pop Culture

Can a starship captain be both great and moral?

Can Vulcans and androids really have (or be) friends?

What is it like to be a hologram, shapeshifter, or incorporeal entity?

Why do the Borg frighten us so much?

Is there room for God in the Star Trek universe?

Is Q just a sadistic pest or a provocateur of human advancement?

The Ultimate Star Trek and Philosophy boldly goes where no book has gone before in pursuit of a greater philosophical understanding of the galaxy's final frontier. It reunites the editors of Star Trek and Philosophy with Starfleet's finest experts for 31 new, highly logical essays to provide a thorough examination of the Star Trek universe -- from the original series to the most recent films directed by J.J. Abrams, Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). The essays introduce important concepts in philosophy through the vast array of provocative issues raised by the series, such as the ethics of the Prime Directive, Star Trek's philosophy of peace, Data and Voyager's Doctor as persons, moral relativism and the Federation's quest for liberation, the effect of alternate universes on reality and identity, the Borg as transhumanists, Federation Trekonomics, and Star Trek's secular society. Available in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the endlessly inventive and beloved Star Trek franchise, this is an enterprising and enlightening voyage into deep space that will appeal to hardcore fans and science fiction enthusiasts alike.

Kevin S. Decker is Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Washington University, where he teaches ethics, American and Continental philosophy, and philosophy of popular culture. He is co-editor of Philosophy and Breaking Bad (2016) and author of Who is Who? The Philosophy of Doctor Who (2013). He is co-editor, with Jason T. Eberl, of The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2015), Star Trek and Philosophy (2008), and Star Wars and Philosophy (2005).
Jason T. Eberl is the Semler Endowed Chair for Medical Ethics and Professor of Philosophy at Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he teaches bioethics, ethics, and medieval philosophy. He has edited or contributed to books on Battlestar Galactica, Sons of Anarchy, Metallica, Terminator, The Hunger Games, The Big Lebowski, Stanley Kubrick, J.J. Abrams, and Avatar. His most recent books are The Rout/edge Guidebook to Aquinas' Summa Theologiae (2015) and The Philosophy of Christopher Nolan (2016). He is co-editor, with Kevin S. Decker, of The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2015), Star Trek and Philosophy (2008), and Star Wars and Philosophy (2005).
William Irwin (series editor) is Herve A. LeBlanc Distinguished Service Professor and Chair of Philosophy at King's College in Pennsylvania and is the author of The Free Market Existentialist. Irwin originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books with Seinfeld and Philosophy in 1999 and has overseen recent titles including The Ultimate Daily Show and Philosophy, Game of Thrones and Philosophy, and Sons of Anarchy and Philosophy.

To learn more about the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, visit www.andphilosophy.com