A philosophical look at the movie Inception and its brilliant metaphysical puzzles Is the top still spinning? Was it all a dream? In the world of Christopher Nolan's four-time Academy Award-winning movie, people can share one another's dreams and alter their beliefs and thoughts. Inception is a metaphysical heist film that raises more questions than it answers: Can we know what is real? Can you be held morally responsible for what you do in dreams? What is the nature of dreams, and what do they tell us about the boundaries of "e;self"e; and "e;other"e;? From Plato to Aristotle and from Descartes to Hume, Inception and Philosophy draws from important philosophical minds to shed new light on the movie's captivating themes, including the one that everyone talks about: did the top fall down (and does it even matter)? Explores the movie's key questions and themes, including how we can tell if we're dreaming or awake, how to make sense of a paradox, and whether or not inception is possible Gives new insights into the nature of free will, time, dreams, and the unconscious mind Discusses different interpretations of the film, and whether or not philosophy can help shed light on which is the "e;right one"e; Deepens your understanding of the movie's multi-layered plot and dream-infiltrating characters, including Dom Cobb, Arthur, Mal, Ariadne, Eames, Saito, and Yusuf An essential companion for every dedicated Inception fan, this book will enrich your experience of the Inception universe and its complex dreamscape.

A philosophical look at the movie Inception and itsbrilliant metaphysical puzzlesIs the top still spinning? Was it all a dream? In the world ofChristopher Nolan's four-time Academy Award-winning movie, peoplecan share one another's dreams and alter their beliefs andthoughts. Inception is a metaphysical heist film that raisesmore questions than it answers: Can we know what is real? Can yoube held morally responsible for what you do in dreams? What is thenature of dreams, and what do they tell us about the boundaries of"self" and "other"? From Plato to Aristotle and from Descartes toHume, Inception and Philosophy draws from importantphilosophical minds to shed new light on the movie's captivatingthemes, including the one that everyone talks about: did the topfall down (and does it even matter)?* Explores the movie's key questions and themes, including how wecan tell if we're dreaming or awake, how to make sense of aparadox, and whether or not inception is possible* Gives new insights into the nature of free will, time, dreamsand the unconscious mind* Discusses different interpretations of the film, and whether ornot philosophy can help shed light on which is the "right one"* Deepens your understanding of the movie's multi-layered plotand dream-infiltrating characters, including Dom Cobb, Arthur, MalAriadne, Eames, Saito, and YusufAn essential companion for every dedicated Inception fan, thisbook will enrich your experience of the Inception universeand its complex dreamscape.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The Dream Team xiThe Editor's Totem: An Elegant Solution for Keeping Track of Reality 1Introduction: Plato's Academy Award 11PART ONE WAS MAL RIGHT? WAS IT ALL JUST A DREAM?: MAKING SENSE OF INCEPTION1 Was It All a Dream?: Why Nolan's Answer Doesn't Matter 17Ruth Tallman2 Let Me Put My Thoughts in You: It Was All Just a Dream 31Jason Southworth3 Even If It Is a Dream, We Should Still Care 46Andrew Terjesen4 The Unavoidable Dream Problem 62James T. M. MillerPART TWO IS THE TOP STILL SPINNING?: TACKLING THE UNANSWERABLE QUESTION5 The Parable of the Spinning Top: Skepticism, Angst, and Cobb's Choice 77Katherine Tullmann6 Reality Doesn't Really Matter 92Dan Weijers7 Why Care whether the Top Keeps Spinning? 108Bart EngelenPART THREE IS INCEPTION POSSIBLE?: THE METAPHYSICS, ETHICS, AND MECHANICS OF INCEPTING8 How to Hijack a Mind: Inception and the Ethics of Heist Films 125Daniel P. Malloy9 Inception, Teaching, and Hypnosis: The Ethics of Idea-Giving 140Adam Barkman10 Inception and Free Will: Are They Compatible? 152John R. Fitzpatrick and David Kyle Johnson11 Honor and Redemption in Corporate Espionage 166Albert J. ChanPART FOUR WHAT IS DREAMING?: EXPLORING THE NATURE OF (SHARED) DREAMS (UPON DREAMS)12 Shared Dreaming and Extended Minds 177Ken Marable13 Morally Responsible Dreaming: Your Mind Is the Scene of the Crime 187Lance Belluomini14 Dream Time: Inception and the Philosophy of Time 199Michael J. Sigrist15 Dreams and Possible Worlds: Inception and the Metaphysics of Modality 215Charles Joshua Horn16 Do Our Dreams Occur While We Sleep? 231Keith DrommPART FIVE SHOULD I TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH?: RELIGIOUS THEMES IN INCEPTION17 Taking a Leap of Faith: A How-to Guide 249David Kyle Johnson18 Limbo, Utopia, and the Paradox of Idyllic Hope 265Clint Jones19 Unlocking the Vault of the Mind: Inception and Asian Philosophy 276Scott Daniel DunbarPART SIX WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?: FINDING THE HIDDEN LESSONS OF INCEPTION20 Mal-Placed Regret 295Kimberly Blessing21 "You're Just a Shade": Knowing Others, and Yourself 310Daniel Forbes22 Paradox, Dreams, and Strange Loops in Inception 326Tyler ShoresAPPENDIX : A Safe Full of Secrets: Hidden Gems You May Have Missed 343CONTRIBUTORS: The Architects 363INDEX: The PASIV (Plenary Alphabetized Subject Index for This Volume) Device 371