Philosophy through Film

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by Amy Karofsky

Type: Studies
Subject: Theory
Keywords: philosophy
Publishing date: 2025 (March 31, 2025)
Publisher: Routledge; 5th edition
1st publishing: 2020
Language: English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 402 pages
6 x 9 inches (15 x 23 cm)

ISBN

978-1-032-54459-5

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Book Presentation:
This fifth edition of Philosophy through Film uses recently released, well-received movies to explore answers to classic questions in philosophy in an approachable yet philosophically rigorous manner.

Author Amy Karofsky uses two films in each chapter to examine one long-standing philosophical question and assess some of the best solutions to it that have been offered. The chosen movies are not mere “add-ons” to an otherwise straightforward introductory text; instead, they are fully integrated into the discussion of the issues and the various positions. Each chapter also includes discussion questions, an annotated list of films related to the chapter topic, and two or three historically significant primary sources (which are collected together at the end of the book).

Changes to the fifth edition include:
• The replacement of older movies with four new focus films: Anatomy of a Fall, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Get Out, and The Time Traveler’s Wife.
• The addition of new primary readings from Roderick Chisholm, Jerry Fodor, Baron d’Holbach, and Susan Wolf.
• Important new sections added to Chapter 1 on Truth (“The Identity Theory of Truth”) and Chapter 5 on Artificial Intelligence (“The I in AI”).
• A major overhaul of Chapter 6 on free will, determinism, and moral responsibility.
• Updated notes throughout.

The films examined in depth are: Ad Astra; Anatomy of a Fall; Arrival; Beautiful Boy; Crimes and Misdemeanors; Divergent; Equilibrium, Everywhere Everything All at Once; Ex Machina; Get Out; Gone Baby Gone; Her; Inception; Edge of Tomorrow; The Matrix; Memento; A Serious Man; Silence; The Time Traveler’s Wife.

For a collection of Story Lines of the Discussed Films by Elapsed Time, visit: www.routledge.com/9781032544595

About the Author:
Amy Karofsky is Professor of Philosophy at Hofstra University.She is the author of A Case for Necessitarianism (Routledge, 2022).

Press Reviews:
Praise for Previous Editions:

"Outstanding! I am a major fan of this book and have used it with great success in my philosophy and film classes."
- James Fieser, University of Tennessee at Martin, USA.

"A valuable book for introducing students to the wonder of philosophical exploration and the power of philosophical reasoning to force us to reevaluate our reflexive responses to fundamental questions, such as the nature of truth or the self."
- Jennifer Hansen, St. Lawrence University, USA.

"Highly recommended for the introductory philosophy classroom, as well as for anyone who likes movies that make you think."
- Nathan Andersen, Collegium of Letters, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA.

Praise for Previous Editions:

"Outstanding! I am a major fan of this book and have used it with great success in my philosophy and film classes."
―James Fieser, University of Tennessee at Martin, USA.

"A valuable book for introducing students to the wonder of philosophical exploration and the power of philosophical reasoning to force us to reevaluate our reflexive responses to fundamental questions, such as the nature of truth or the self."
―Jennifer Hansen, St. Lawrence University, USA.

"Highly recommended for the introductory philosophy classroom, as well as for anyone who likes movies that make you think."
―Nathan Andersen, Collegium of Letters, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA.