Philosophy 199
Morality, Reality and the Meaning of Life
In Popular Film and TV

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PHI 101
Introduction to Philosophy
A World-Historical Perspective

PHI 199
Morality, Reality, and the Meaning of Life

PHI 248
Philosophy and Popular Culture

PHI 280
19th Century Philosophy: Kant to Nietzsche

PHI 388
20th Century Philosophy: Analytic v. Continental


Text: James Lawler: The God Tube: Uncovering the Hidden Spiritual Message in Pop Culture. Open Court, Chicago, 2010

Important Course Information to Download

Course Syllabus

Really Good Noodles: Empiricism, Rationalism, Kant, and the Matrix

Final Exam Questions

 

Lecture Schedule

Date Course Texts Outside Materials

Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Aug 27, Aug 29, Aug 31, Sept 5, Sept 7, Sept 10, Sept 12, Sept. 14, Sept 17, Sept 19, Sept 21

1: Between Duty and Desire: Morality in the Simpsons  

Weeks 5, 6
Sept 24, Sept 26, Sept 28, Oct 1, Oct 3, Oct 5

2: From Illusion to Reality: The Matrix of the Good Society

 

Weeks 7, 8
Oct 8, Oct 10, Oct 12, Oct 15, Oct 17, Oct 19
3: The Multidimensional Universe of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

 

Weeks 9, 10
Oct 22, Oct 24, Oct 26, Oct 29, Oct 31, Nov 2

4: Blinding the Eyes of Justice: Woody Allen's Tale of Crime and Punishment  
Weeks 11 and 12
Nov 5, Nov 7, Nov 9, Nov 12, Nov 14, Nov 16
5: Realizing the Highest Good: The Power of Love in the Matrix Trilogy  
Weeks 13 and 14
Nov 19, Nov 26, Nov 28, Nov 30, Dec 3, Dec 5, Dec 7
Etext: "Really Good Noodles: Empiricism, Rationalism, Kant, and the Matrix"