A look at the philosophical underpinnings of the hit TV show, Mad Men With its swirling cigarette smoke, martini lunches, skinny ties, and tight pencil skirts, Mad Men is unquestionably one of the most stylish, sexy, and irresistible shows on television. But the series becomes even more absorbing once you dig deeper into its portrayal of the changing social and political mores of 1960s America and explore the philosophical complexities of its key characters and themes. From Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle to John Kenneth Galbraith, Milton Friedman, and Ayn Rand, Mad Men and Philosophy brings the thinking of some of history's most powerful minds to bear on the world of Don Draper and the Sterling Cooper ad agency. You'll gain insights into a host of compelling Mad Men questions and issues, including happiness, freedom, authenticity, feminism, Don Draper's identity, and more. Takes an unprecedented look at the philosophical issues and themes behind AMC's Emmy Award-winning show, Mad Men Explores issues ranging from identity to authenticity to feminism, and more Offers new insights on your favorite Mad Men characters, themes, and storylines Mad Men and Philosophy will give Mad Men fans everywhere something new to talk about around the water cooler.

A look at the philosophical underpinnings of the hit TV showMad MenWith its swirling cigarette smoke, martini lunches, skinny tiesand tight pencil skirts, Mad Men is unquestionably one of the moststylish, sexy, and irresistible shows on television. But the seriesbecomes even more absorbing once you dig deeper into its portrayalof the changing social and political mores of 1960s America andexplore the philosophical complexities of its key characters andthemes. From Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle to John KennethGalbraith, Milton Friedman, and Ayn Rand, Mad Men and Philosophybrings the thinking of some of history's most powerful minds tobear on the world of Don Draper and the Sterling Cooper ad agency.You'll gain insights into a host of compelling Mad Men questionsand issues, including happiness, freedom, authenticity, feminismDon Draper's identity, and more.* Takes an unprecedented look at the philosophical issues andthemes behind AMC's Emmy Award-winning show, Mad Men* Explores issues ranging from identity to authenticity tofeminism, and more* Offers new insights on your favorite Mad Men charactersthemes, and storylinesMad Men and Philosophy will give Mad Men fans everywheresomething new to talk about around the water cooler.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: "I Think We Need to Salute That!"Introduction: "A Thing Like That".PART ONE: "PEOPLE MAY SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY, BUT THEYDON'T REALLY WANT TO": MAD MEN AND PROBLEMS OFKNOWLEDGE AND FREEDOM.1 What Fools We Were: Mad Men, Hindsight, andJustification (Landon W. Schurtz).2 "People Want to Be Told What to Do So Badly That They'llListen to Anyone": Mimetic Madness at Sterling Cooper (George A.Dunn).3 Capitalism and Freedom in the Affluent Society (KevinGuilfoy).PART TWO: "THERE IS NO BIG LIE, THERE IS NO SYSTEM, THEUNIVERSE IS INDIFFERENT": MAD MEN AND THE PROBLEM OFMEANING.4 Pete, Peggy, Don, and the Dialectic of Remembering andForgetting (John Fritz).5 The Existential Void of Roger Sterling (Raymond AngeloBelliotti).6 Egoless Egoists: The Second-Hand Lives of Mad Men (RobertWhite).7 An Existential Look at Mad Men: Don DraperAdvertising, and the Promise of Happiness (Ada S.Jaarsma).PART THREE: "AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPINESS IS?": MAD MENAND ETHICS.8 "In on It": Honesty, Respect, and the Ethics of Advertising(Andreja Novakovic and Tyler Whitney).9 Creating the Need for the New: "It's Not the Wheel. It's theCarousel." (George Teschner and Gabrielle Teschner).10 "You're Looking in the Wrong Direction": Mad Men andthe Ethics of Advertising (Adam Barkman).11 Is Don Draper a Good Man? (Andrew Terjesen).12 Don Draper, on How to Make Oneself (Whole Again) (JohnElia).PART FOUR: "NO ONE ELSE IS SAYING THE RIGHT THING ABOUTTHIS": MAD MEN AND SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY.13 "And Nobody Understands That, but You Do": The AristotelianIdeal of Friendship among the Mad Men (and Women)(Abigail E. Myers).14 Mad Women: Aristotle, Second-Wave Feminism, and the Women ofMad Men (Ashley Jihee Barkman).15 "We've Got Bigger Problems to Worry about Than TV, Okay?"Mad Men and Race (Rod Carveth).16 "New York City Is a Marvelous Machine": Mad Men andthe Power of Social Convention (James B. South).APPENDIX: It's Not a List of Titles and Air Dates; It'san Episode Guide.CONTRIBUTORS: Some Real Mad Men and Women.INDEX: Client Files Lifted from Sterling Cooper.