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The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy: The Lion, the Witch and the Worldview

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SKU:
193
Condition:
Like New
Format:
Hardcover, 302 pages
Publisher:
Open Court/Barnes & Noble, 2009
Edition:
Reprint
Pushing through some mothballed fur coats in a wardrobe in a disused room of an old London house, Lucy and the other Pevensie children found themselves in a strange and wonderful country, populated by creatures unknown in our world. This is the universe opened up by C.S. Lewis in his first Narnia book, "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe." Philosophy, too, can take us into a magical new place with its own peculiar delights and dangers. Here, twenty-four philosophers and Narnia fans explore the unique philosophical landscape of the Narnia Chronicles. Philosophy, it turns out, can be as addictive as the White Witch’s Turkish delight, though hopefully not always so frustrating. Under what conditions should we believe a story that runs counter to all our experience? Does might make right or are there objective moral rules? Would Albert Einstein have made any sense of the claim that time can flow at different rates in different worlds? If a boy is turned into a dragon, is the dragon still the same person as the boy? Do animals—even the ones that don’t talk—have souls? Can salvation be found in many religions or only in one? These puzzles and more are bravely undertaken in The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy.

C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series has entertained millions of readers, both children and adults, since the The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe appeared in 1950.  Six decades later, scholars turn the lens of philosophy on these timeless tales, which gained an even wider following when the blockbuster film series began in 2005. Engagingly written for a lay audience, these philosophical essays consider a wealth of topics centered on the ethical and spiritual significance of the adventures of Aslan, the Pevensie children, and the rest of the colorful cast.  Inside The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy, readers will discover thought-provoking discussions on the following questions: Do the spectacular events in Narnia give readers a simplistic view of human choice and decision making? Does Aslan offer a solution to the problem of evil? What does the character of Susan tell readers about Lewis’s view of gender? How does Lewis address the Nietzschean “master morality” embraced by most of the villains of the Chronicles?

Tackling these and a wide range of other questions, this provocative book takes a fresh view of the world of Narnia and expands readers' experience of it.

Editorial Reviews

"The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy offers expert and insightful guides through the Narnia philosophical forests.  It is must reading for those wishing to go deeply into Narnia." -Kelly James Clark, author of When Faith Is Not Enough

About the Editors

GREGORY BASSHAM is Chair of the Philosophy Department at King's College, Pennsylvania, co-author of Critical Thinking: A Student's Introduction, and co-editor of The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy.  JERRY L. WALLS is Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Asbury Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky.  He is the author of Hell: The Logic of Damnation and Heaven: The Logic of Eternal Joy.