A lighthearted meditation on the philosophical quandaries of the hit television show The Big Bang Theory Ever wonder what Aristotle might say about the life Sheldon Cooper leads? Why Thomas Hobbes would applaud the roommate agreement? Who Immanuel Kant would treat with "e;haughty derision"e; for weaving "e;un-unravelable webs?"e; And most importantly whether Wil Wheaton is truly evil? Of course you have. Bazinga! This book mines the deep thinking of some of history's most potent philosophical minds to explore your most pressing questions about The Big Bang Theory and its nerdy genius characters. You might find other philosophy books on science and cosmology, but only this one refers to Darth Vader Force-chokes, cloning Leonard Nimoy, and oompa-loompa-like engineers. Fo-shizzle. Gives you irresistibly geek-worthy insights on your favorite Big Bang Theory characters, story lines, and ideas Examines important themes involving ethics and virtue, science, semiotics, religion, and the human condition Brings the thinking of some of the world's greatest philosophers to bear on The Big Bang Theory, from Aristotle and Plato to Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Simone de Beauvoir, and more Essential reading for every Big Bang Theory fan, this book explores whether comic-book-wielding geeks can lead the good life, and whether they can know enough science to "e;tear the mask off nature and stare at the face of God."e;

A lighthearted meditation on the philosophical quandaries of thehit television show The Big Bang TheoryEver wonder what Aristotle might say about the life SheldonCooper leads? Why Thomas Hobbes would applaud the roommateagreement? Who Immanuel Kant would treat with "haughty derision"for weaving "un-unravelable webs?" And--mostimportantly--whether Wil Wheaton is truly evil? Ofcourse you have. Bazinga!This book mines the deep thinking of some of history's mostpotent philosophical minds to explore your most pressing questionsabout The Big Bang Theory and its nerdy genius characters.You might find other philosophy books on science and cosmology, butonly this one refers to Darth Vader Force-chokes, cloning LeonardNimoy, and oompa-loompa-like engineers. Fo-shizzle.* Gives you irresistibly geek-worthy insights on your favoriteBig Bang Theory characters, story lines, and ideas* Examines important themes involving ethics and virtue, sciencesemiotics, religion, and the human condition* Brings the thinking of some of the world's greatestphilosophers to bear on The Big Bang Theory, from Aristotleand Plato to Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Simone de Beauvoir, andmoreEssential reading for every Big Bang Theory fan, thisbook explores whether comic-book-wielding geeks can lead the goodlife, and whether they can know enough science to "tear the maskoff nature and stare at the face of God."

Acknowledgments ixIntroduction: "Unraveling the Mysteries" 1Part One "It All Began On A Warm Summer's Evening In Greece": Aristotelian Insights1 Aristotle on Sheldon Cooper: Ancient Greek Meets Modern Geek 7Greg Littmann2 "You're a Sucky, Sucky Friend": Seeking Aristotelian Friendship in The Big Bang Theory 21Dean A. Kowalski3 The Big Bang Theory on the Use and Abuse of Modern Technology 35Kenneth Wayne Sayles IIIPart Two "Is It Wrong To Say I Love Our Killer Robot?": Ethics And Virtue4 Feeling Bad about Feeling Good: Is It Morally Wrong to Laugh at Sheldon? 51W. Scott Clifton5 . . . But Is Wil Wheaton Evil? 65Donna Marie Smith6 Do We Need a Roommate Agreement?: Pleasure, Selfishness, and Virtue in The Big Bang Theory 80Gregory L. Bock and Jeffrey L. BockPart Three "Perhaps You Mean A Different Thing Than I Do When You Say 'Science'": Science, Scientism, And Religion7 Getting Fundamental about Doing Physics in The Big Bang Theory 99Jonathan Lawhead8 Sheldon, Leonard, and Leslie: The Three Faces of Quantum Gravity 112Andrew Zimmerman Jones9 The One Paradigm to Rule Them All: Scientism and The Big Bang Theory 128Massimo Pigliucci10 Cooper Considerations: Science, Religion, and Family 144Adam Barkman and Dean A. KowalskiPart Four "I Need Your Opinion On A Matter Of Semiotics": Language And Meaning11 Wittgenstein and Language Games in The Big Bang Theory 161Janelle Pötzsch12 "I'm Afraid You Couldn't Be More Wrong!": Sheldon and Being Right about Being Wrong 175Adolfas Mackonis13 The Cooper Conundrum: Good Lord, Who's Tolerating Whom? 189Ruth E. Lowe14 The Mendacity Bifurcation 203Don FallisPart Five "The Human Experience That Has Always Eluded Me": The Human Condition15 Mothers and Sons of The Big Bang Theory 219Ashley Barkman16 Penny, Sheldon, and Personal Growth through Difference 233Nicholas G. Evans17 Deconstructing the Women of The Big Bang Theory: So Much More Than Girlfriends 244Mark D. White and Maryanne L. FisherThe Episode Compendium: "Hey, It's a Big Menu--There's Two Pages Just for Desserts" 257Contributors:"But If We Were Part of the Team . . . We Could Drink for Free in Any Bar in Any College Town" 261Index: "Cornucopia . . . Let's Make That Our Word of the Day" 267