From the Back Cover
Is abiding a virtue?
Does Walter's aggression illustrate the principles of just war theory?
Does bowling help Donny, Walter, and the Dude resist nihilism?
Does the Dude exemplify the Taoist way of life?
Is the Dude a feminist ally?
In the morally corrupt world of The Big Lebowski, the Dude emerges as a beacon of integrity, authenticity, and virtue. He is a philosopher's hero who struggles to live the good life in spite of assault, rug peeing, an apparent kidnapping, and the death of a friendand The Big Lebowski and Philosophy unpacks the deeper meaning of it all. Enlisting the help of great thinkers like Plato, Nietzsche, Aristotle, Gödel, Derrida, Freud, Wittgenstein, and Epicurus, the book explores the Dude's pacifism and Walter's warrior instincts, the class war between unemployed bums and capitalist achievers, and how leisure is an essential part of our human existence. Read this book and you'll know why The Big Lebowski is one of the greatest existentialist movies of all time. But that's just, you know, our opin
About the Author
Peter S. Fosl is chair of the philosophy program at Transylvania University. Coauthor of The Philosopher's Toolkit, he has contributed to Metallica and Philosophy, Ultimate Lost and Philosophy, Terminator and Philosophy, Heroes and Philosophy, and Twilight and Philosophy. Visit www.PeterFosl.us for more information.
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, Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy, and Inception and Philosophy.