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Post by Fortmax2020 on Jan 7, 2009 12:35:16 GMT
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chrisl
Empty
I still think its the 1990s - when I joined TMUK
Posts: 1,054
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Post by chrisl on Jan 7, 2009 12:58:39 GMT
Oh FFS! As a (p/t) Philosophy PhD student there is nothing I dispise more than the "Insert popular TV / Culture Reference and Philosophy" books that fill up the Philosophy section in all leading bookstores!
These substanceless books are only ever bought by hardcore fans of the pop-culture reference or the hundreds of stoners who believe that copious amounts of weed + watching said film somehow turns them into the world's most insightful masters of the philosophical universe and makes the inane psychobable they spout "deep and insightful". The amount of poor quality shoe-horning of the "classical/famous" philosophical debates to fit in with the plot/content of pop-culture references is a joke.
I guarantee that none of the serious/plausible connections between TF and Philosophy will actually be hinted at in this book.
*rant over*
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Gav
Drone
John Travoltage!
Posts: 2,045
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Post by Gav on Jan 7, 2009 13:24:47 GMT
The Decepticons...see.....see they represent EVIL....right?!
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Jan 7, 2009 15:08:41 GMT
Looking at the page count and the fact that there is editorship rather than authorship of the two main people involved I will disagree with Chris.  I despise books like this usually but have some hopes for this one. One of us will be right, one wrong.... Will probably be me though! |
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jan 7, 2009 18:03:22 GMT
I'm currently reading 'The Dalai Lama's Book of Transformation', so anything is possible.
Countdown to 1000 posts: ONE!!!
Martin
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jan 7, 2009 20:10:30 GMT
Hmm. I will wait and see...
Andy
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Post by karla on Jan 8, 2009 0:29:13 GMT
Oh FFS! As a (p/t) Philosophy PhD student there is nothing I dispise more than the "Insert popular TV / Culture Reference and Philosophy" books that fill up the Philosophy section in all leading bookstores! These substanceless books are only ever bought by hardcore fans of the pop-culture reference or the hundreds of stoners who believe that copious amounts of weed + watching said film somehow turns them into the world's most insightful masters of the philosophical universe and makes the inane psychobable they spout "deep and insightful". The amount of poor quality shoe-horning of the "classical/famous" philosophical debates to fit in with the plot/content of pop-culture references is a joke. I guarantee that none of the serious/plausible connections between TF and Philosophy will actually be hinted at in this book. *rant over* easy! its a book..........a book I'm GONNA BUY!!! |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2009 19:12:04 GMT
Oh FFS! As a (p/t) Philosophy PhD student there is nothing I dispise more than the "Insert popular TV / Culture Reference and Philosophy" books that fill up the Philosophy section in all leading bookstores! These substanceless books are only ever bought by hardcore fans of the pop-culture reference or the hundreds of stoners who believe that copious amounts of weed + watching said film somehow turns them into the world's most insightful masters of the philosophical universe and makes the inane psychobable they spout "deep and insightful". The amount of poor quality shoe-horning of the "classical/famous" philosophical debates to fit in with the plot/content of pop-culture references is a joke. I guarantee that none of the serious/plausible connections between TF and Philosophy will actually be hinted at in this book. *rant over* hey!!! i once said exactly the same thing...when i was stoned ;D |
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Post by blueshift on Jan 18, 2009 20:16:10 GMT
Oh wow I didn't think this was actually real!
I'm sold!
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Nigel
Thunderjet
Posts: 4,964
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Post by Nigel on Jan 19, 2009 14:16:42 GMT
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primenova
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
Posts: 5,997
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Post by primenova on Feb 17, 2009 12:33:25 GMT
TRANSFORMERS AND PHILOSOPHY SC £13
This book is listed in new previews just before
TRANS RISE FALLEN ELECTRONIC VOICE CHANGER
in book section. Is it Transformers related or just another one of those books about power convetors that you get if you search for Transformers on amazon.
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Post by blueshift on Feb 17, 2009 12:45:04 GMT
I am assured it is Transformers
But I would love a book about the philosophy of electrical power converters too!
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Dave
Empty
Posts: 1,811
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Post by Dave on Feb 17, 2009 13:30:29 GMT
It's here on Amazon complete with Bumblebee cover. |
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Nigel
Thunderjet
Posts: 4,964
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Post by Nigel on Mar 31, 2011 9:09:25 GMT
Did anyone actually read this? I'd forgotten about it until recently. I ordered a copy, which arrived yesterday. I intend entering it with an open mind, but I'm not encouraged by the cover blurb, which includes this: "Excepting only the Star Wars saga, Transformers have made more fans - and more real friends - on the surface of this planet than any other scifi story, and they are still multiplying their influence exponentially." That seems a rather sweeping, unsubstantiated, non-provable statement. The fans of, say, Star Trek or Superman might have something to say about it. One of the editors was a contributor to Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy (part of the Popular Culture and Philosphy series). |
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primenova
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
Posts: 5,997
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Post by primenova on Mar 31, 2011 11:19:20 GMT
Is it a story or a guide book?
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Dave
Empty
Posts: 1,811
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Post by Dave on Mar 31, 2011 11:20:44 GMT
Wasn't interested in picking it up and I'd completely forgot about it. I don't even recall posting that link. Will be curious to read your further thoughts though once you get in to it.
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Nigel
Thunderjet
Posts: 4,964
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Post by Nigel on Mar 31, 2011 12:56:54 GMT
Is it a story or a guide book? No, it is actually a philosophy text book. Chapter titles include Will We Meet Optimus Prime in Heaven?; Morally Responsible Machines; and Megatron, Fascist Philosopher. |
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Mar 31, 2011 16:48:50 GMT
I bought it and had a flick through but not a proper read. I think I read the Optimus chapter you mention above and being unimpressed as the writer had a very under-informed view of what religious believers understand about what Heaven is/means.
It seemed to be an bit of a mix between philosophers/theologians/other academics who were asked to write vaguely in these areas and students who clearly had a 'thing' for these areas.
Surprisingly there were also no contributions on the theological side from any of the theologians or religious writers known for contributing to these areas. An obvious exception was Anne Foerst who was the resident theologian for MIT's old embodied robotics programs. Robert M Geraci also has a lot of interesting things to say on AI/virtual worlds and religion and would've been a very natural fit here but no luck.
It could be an interesting book, but honestly I think I have more considered items on my bookshelves in this area to spend my time on.
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Nigel
Thunderjet
Posts: 4,964
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Post by Nigel on Mar 31, 2011 17:13:53 GMT
I'm rather intrigued as to what Spongebob Squarepants and Philosophy has to say.
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