I Watch, Therefore I Am: From Socrates to Sartre, the Great Mysteries of Life as Explained Through Howdy Doody, Marcia Brady, Homer Simpson, Don Draper, and other TV Icons

by Gregory Bergman

Let Gilligan's Island teach you about situational ethics.
Learn about epistemology from The Brady Bunch.
Explore Aristotle's Poetics by watching 24 .

Television has grappled with a wide range of philosophical conundrums. According to the networks, it's the ultimate source of all knowledge in the universe! So why not look to the small screen for answers to all of humanity's dilemmas?

There's not a single issue discussed by the great thinkers of the past that hasn't been hashed out between commercials in shows like Mad Men and Leave It to Beaver . So fix yourself a snack, settle into the couch, grab the remote...and prepare to be enlightened.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2011

Reviews

[S Ravishankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book on western philosophy that gives the complete history and evolution. Written in a easily readable volume, the book can be used as a reference by novices on the subject.

[Elliot Chalom · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read, though not exactly what I was expecting. This book is much more a guided tour through the history of philosophy than a guide of the intersection of TV and philosophy. TV shows are a supporting character in this story, not the main event. I was hoping for something that really got into the philosophical underpinnings of shows/characters. For what this book offers, you're better off reading Warburton's A Little History of Philosophy.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

The book does give a nice, basic introduction to philosophy, with a summary of what all the greats thought. And while he does tie the philosophies to various TV shows/characters, there is not near enough of it. More TV research was certainly required to keep it interesting.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a brief introduction to philosophy via pop culture, television in particular. I did not expect this. This felt like reading a philosophy textbook that used television characters as examples. I had anticipated more of an essay format.

Anyway, some chapters use TV situations/characters better than others. Among these are:

• Chapter 6: Charlie Harper’s Non-Epicurean Lifestyle: Though I’ve never watched Two and a Half Men, I totally understand the philosophy of Epicurus now.

• Chapter 18: Earl Hickey meets Karman in My Name is Earl: Again, the authors have used a show I’ve never watched to clearly illustrate Buddha’s moral law of Karma.

This volume also contains a glossary and a who’s who of philosophy, if you really care about philosophy. After reading a bunch of dry chapters about philosophy (which just happen to mention fabulous television programs), I’m not really interested in the two appendices. In fact, I don’t think I’m too interested in philosophy after reading this book.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept seemed like a stretch at first, but either the authors got more convincing as they went along or I got used to it -- by the time they were using George Costanza to illustrate Sartre's assertion that "hell is other people," I found myself doing a lot of nodding in agreement.

[Jason McKinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise may sound a bit silly, but this is not only highly entertaining but quite informative as well. It's a lot of fun to read.

[Purple Tiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!