Paula Smithka

In this collection of essays, various philosophers explore philosophic ideas using examples from Doctor Who. Having suffered through two philosophy courses during my undergrad, some of the ideas and theories explored here were familiar to me but made more palatable by Doctor Who references. Occasionally, I wished my philosophy courses had used this book as a textbook but, of course, I hadn't watched any Doctor Who back then. That being said, not even a plethora of Doctor Who references could get me to alter my opinion that many philosophers are pretentious and that while the ideas they explore are interesting, their arguments often leave me exasperated. That being said, if you're a Doctor Who fan this one might intrigue you and if you like philosophy and Doctor Who then this book will likely have you over the moon.… (mais)

As with the others in the series, this book presents philosophical concepts that are not only easy to grasp, but easy to remember. Unlike the others, this one places less emphasis on individual philosophers and a bit more on the philosophical concepts.

Much of the book looks at identity and existence, something the Doctor deals with time and again. It examines who we are and why we believe that, and how we decide the identity of others. What would make us change our minds? They delve into the common issues such as creating two of a person or the slow replacement of body parts until the original is gone.

The book continues to look at time and ethics, two more topics that are big in the series. The last section of the book examines culture. Throughout the book, anecdotes and stories involving many of the Doctor's opponents from early episodes through the latest and occasional references to the comics.

This is a great book for any Dr. Who fans with a passing interest in philosophy, or not.… (mais)