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Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington: Understanding Political Doublespeak Through Philosophy and Jokes
Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein, authors of the national bestseller Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar, aren’t falling for any election year claptrap—and they don’t want their readers to either! In Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington, our two favorite philosopher-comedians return just in time to save us from the double-speak, flim-flam, and alternate reality of p...more
Compact Disc, 0 pages
Published
January 13th 2008
by Recorded Books
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A truly pleasant and useful book, Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington helps and enables its readers to recognize when their intelligence is being insulted. While the examples of erroneous thinking and fallacious reasoning presented here are not by any means exhaustive of the subject matter, they are nonetheless the most common, and it is a public service to put their names in the public consciousness. If the book has a flaw, it is that it is too timely. Most of its examples are culled ...more
Cathcart and Klein has come up with a follow-up to their Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar, this time with a focus on logical fallacies, rhetoric, and contemporary political discourse. Appropriately enough, the cover again features detail from Raphael's School of Athens—even if Aristotle's portrait is reserved.
Let me get one thing out of the way. I love jokes. Can't tell them worth a wit, but I love 'em. So I end up terrorizing friends, family and colleagues by cornering them wit...more
Let me get one thing out of the way. I love jokes. Can't tell them worth a wit, but I love 'em. So I end up terrorizing friends, family and colleagues by cornering them wit...more
When a friend recommended this as hilarious, I expected a little more humour than I got from it. Yes, it was humor, but the thing that I liked most about it was that it was simply interesting. The idea of examining political statements to explain logical fallacies made the combination of two subjects, which I would probably have never picked up on their own, create a fascinating dialog. The book was well organized and walked you through the basics of logic, making this perfect for the novice, al...more
This book is kind of Readers Digesty, with short vignettes on how politicos, their defenders and camp followers "perpetuate their tricks." There's some philosophy thrown in here and there (primarily, Aristotle's logic), and the Aardvak ("Aardy") makes its appearance toward the end of the book. There's some good illustrations about the tricks of the trade (e.g., false either/or dilemmas that exclude all other options) and about how terminology such as "sound science"...more
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Radical right wingers probably won't enjoy this book. The more intellectual and interested in politics you are, the more you will like this book. Then again, if you can't laugh at how messed up politics have become, this might not be the best choice for you either.
With that said, Hey! it's an election year! It's almost Primary Time! If the debating and debacling is getting a bit much for you, this baby is hard to put down. Granted, it's not quite as funny as "Plato and the Pla...more
With that said, Hey! it's an election year! It's almost Primary Time! If the debating and debacling is getting a bit much for you, this baby is hard to put down. Granted, it's not quite as funny as "Plato and the Pla...more
Thanks to Memorial Day weekend and a subsequent trip to see my niece graduate from high school, I took in two of these books by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein. As promised on the cover, this work is loaded with humor via jokes, zingers and irony. The authors strive to make the material relevant and palatable for a novice of philosophy.
Moreso than with the audio edition of Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar, I found this recording easier to follow. Adding to my enjoyment, many of...more
Moreso than with the audio edition of Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar, I found this recording easier to follow. Adding to my enjoyment, many of...more
I really enjoyed Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar, so when I stumbled on this at a bookstore the other day, it was a no brainer.
I wish it had a bit more in the way of jokes, honestly. That's about the only bad thing I can say about it, as it accessibly teaches (or reviews) the basic points of rhetoric, logic, and the political manipulation thereof. The problem is, that the book relies on pointing out sort of ridiculous quotes from politicians and pundits for the humor more than...more
I wish it had a bit more in the way of jokes, honestly. That's about the only bad thing I can say about it, as it accessibly teaches (or reviews) the basic points of rhetoric, logic, and the political manipulation thereof. The problem is, that the book relies on pointing out sort of ridiculous quotes from politicians and pundits for the humor more than...more
Time to deconstruct the spin of DC with some philosophical analysis and a few laughs. While quite amusing, this book contains some serious information and pits our politicians (circa mid-2000's) and their bullfunky against the rhetorical fallacies outlined by Aristotle. Jokes are sprinkled throughout the book as well because comedy also untilizes the fallacies often. You won't find any criticism of the Obama administration whatsoever because the book predates it. Dubya fans take note, this was w...more
This book handily deconstructs the flimflammery that passes for politics, and how illogical most of it is. It's not quite as funny as Plato and a Platypus walk into a bar, but that's because the illogic of politicians can often be more intricate than a philosophy text.
Which should scare you.
Still, it's very accessible, and tries to be bipartisan in its ripostes. Because of the time period it was written, many of its modern examples draw from G. W. Bush's administration,...more
Which should scare you.
Still, it's very accessible, and tries to be bipartisan in its ripostes. Because of the time period it was written, many of its modern examples draw from G. W. Bush's administration,...more
Found this on the audiobook shelf at the library. These guys are apparently pretty knowledgeable of logic, philosophy, and debate, but I didn't like how they completely bashed republicans, and only mildly chastised a few left-wingers. The beginning of the book assured it would be funny, but it only succeeded a few times. More crude than necessary. When they criticized right-wingers for giving John Kerry a hard time about his famous "stuck in Iraq" quote I'd had about enough. When ...more
(copied review) Our two favorite philosopher-comedians return just in time to save us from the double-speak, flim-flam, and alternate reality of politics in America. Deploying jokes and cartoon as well as the occasional insight from Aristotle and his peers, Cathcart and Klein explain what politicos are up to when they state: “The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.” (Donald Rumsfeld), “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.” (Bill Clinton), or even, “We hold these t...more
Possibly the first non-narrative nonfiction book I've voluntarily completed. I think part of why I wanted to read this book, after so many years of finding the subject matter not only boring but actually sparking a kind of pain-aversion reflex, was getting sick of the sense of paralysis, impotence, helplessness, of not knowing what to do about current events, because it's so hard to get any sense of objective reality or know which end is up. This is not just me being hopeless: keeping people fro...more
A hilarious guide to the doublespeak, flimflam and alternate reality of politics in America.
Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein, authors of the national bestseller Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar, aren't falling for any election year claptrap — and they don't want their readers to either! In Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington, our two favorite philosopher-comedians return just in time to save us from the doublespeak, flimflam and alternate reality of politics in America.
...more
Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein, authors of the national bestseller Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar, aren't falling for any election year claptrap — and they don't want their readers to either! In Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington, our two favorite philosopher-comedians return just in time to save us from the doublespeak, flimflam and alternate reality of politics in America.
...more
Who would have thought mathmatical formulas could be used do decypher the B.S. Politicians are feeding us. Since I understand math but have always been baffled by the talking heads, this was just the ticket for me!
I tried not to be a Red or Blue State reader but the authors picked predominantly Red Party characters to exploit in their examples. We know there were certainly enough targets out there to have written a Red/Blue, spin free book for the fun of it but it was fun despite th...more
I tried not to be a Red or Blue State reader but the authors picked predominantly Red Party characters to exploit in their examples. We know there were certainly enough targets out there to have written a Red/Blue, spin free book for the fun of it but it was fun despite th...more
Reading this, I can now see how & why certain politicians are better than others. It's not how they spin a situation, but rather how they say or in most cases "don't say" something.
My favorite jokes in this book:
Re: One Person's Weak Analogy is Another Person's Perfect Fit:
The reader sees a picture of a tape dispenser and two snails. One snail says [to the other] "I don't care if she is a tape dispenser. I love her."
Two politici...more
My favorite jokes in this book:
Re: One Person's Weak Analogy is Another Person's Perfect Fit:
The reader sees a picture of a tape dispenser and two snails. One snail says [to the other] "I don't care if she is a tape dispenser. I love her."
Two politici...more
N-as fi crezut ca o sa invat pentru proba la Logica din aceasta carte. Subiectele sunt diverse, toate avand acelasi scop: sa demaste, intr-un mod comic si ironic, erorile logice din viata politica. Bineinteles, e realizata in principal pe politicienii Americani, insa referirile merg pana la Genghis Khan.
Cu toate acestea, desi suna superficial, cartea nu atinge superficialitatea. E o carte instructiva, insa cinica, foarte potrivita educatiei dupa lectia de "filosdotica". ^_^
Cu toate acestea, desi suna superficial, cartea nu atinge superficialitatea. E o carte instructiva, insa cinica, foarte potrivita educatiei dupa lectia de "filosdotica". ^_^
I have heard the author interviewed along with his collaborator on a prior book, 'Plato and a Platypus walk into a bar: understanding philosophy through jokes' so I picked up this one from a display shelf at our library. I enjoyed the combination of humor with explication of common fallacies and rhetorical techniques used to mislead an audience. I didn't care for the final chapter, because it was merely a litany of snide comments about various politicians, authors, etc. more like a gossip colu...more
After reading their Plato and a Platypus book, I picked this one up. You know exactly what their political beliefs are because of the gratuitous attacks on politicians they don’t agree with. Gratuitous attacks on all politicians indicate a good understanding of politics. These two are obviously not well versed in the ways of Washington.
The art of political rhetoric, or perhaps the deception of language - no matter how you slice it, this book is an intriguing journey through political double-talk, specious comments, and utterly nonsensical responses by many of our revered (or despised)statesmen. Humorous as well as a sobering look at creative political language.
Funny review of what makes for a valid or invalid argument. Kind of a Philosophy 101, peppered with jokes. If this had been my college course, it might have made appropriate forms of argument stick in my mind.
Accessible - 5
Well-written - 5
Kept my Attention - 5
Must Read - 3
Important - 1
Accessible - 5
Well-written - 5
Kept my Attention - 5
Must Read - 3
Important - 1
Another easy read in the series that gives a good introduction to the techniques, intentional or otherwise, that politicians and pundits use to obfuscate. Now, if only I could remember the jokes.
I listened to this as a recorded book. That made it very pleasant because there were a lot of philosophical terms that I heard pronounced, and the jokes were great fun to listen to. I was fascinated by how much we can be swayed by flawed logic, or should I say by how much we are all swayed by flawed logic.
This is a book all about political philosophy, but it's explained through jokes! An excellent book for those interested in politics, philosophy, or humor.
All around good book if interseted in polotics. Very interesting to count all the "doublespeak" in this last election.
It was just ok...a good book to keep in bathroom. short little snippets of humor if you know what I mean.
This was not as informative as the first, but still funny. A good thing to read when you are finding it hard to concentrate.
Quick read outlining some basic theories of rhetoric. It was entertaining, and sometimes funny.
Amazing look at logical fallacies and their use in politics.
Very good review of political "logic" and the philosophy of spin.
Amanda
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
debaters, those interested in politics, or disinterested in politician-speak
Leans to the left, but is an interesting look at how words are used in politics and how they are sneaky. This was a quick read (started late last night finished this afternoon). It confirms why I don't watch or listen to much news- there's only a shred of truth hidden within acres of BS. It's not efficient enough for my tired brain. This would've been a handy reference back in high school debate. I was surprised I got all the answers to the little quiz on word trickery at the end right! Pr...more
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Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein wrote the bestselling Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes, which will be translated into more than a dozen languages. Not bad for a couple of philosophy majors from Harvard who tried on various careers after graduation. Tom worked with street gangs in Chicago, doctors at Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and dropped in and out o...more
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