Planet of the Apes and Philosophy

These Apes Appreciate
Planet of the Apes and Philosophy

“Who knew that one movie could inspire such fascinating discourse? A thought-provoking collection from some of the brightest minds of our time.”

      
— V
ANESSA
W
OODS
, bestselling author of
Bonobo Handshake
and
The Genius of Dogs

“In this entertaining and provocative book, philosophers tackle the implications of the 1968 movie
Planet of the Apes
and its many sequels which keep on coming. The book's subtitle
, Great Apes Think Alike,
says it all, regarding not only ‘hairy' apes but also the apes most in need of reflection—humans.”

      
— J
EFFREY
H. S
CHWARTZ
, author of
The Red Ape
.

“An engaging and accessible discussion of the myriad scientific, ethical, political, psychological, and artistic questions raised by the
Planet of the Apes
franchise, told with a knowledgeableness and dry humor sure to delight fans.”

      
— E
MILIE
R
AYMOND
, author of
From My Cold Dead Hands: Charlton Heston and American Politics

“Even though apes aren't monkeys, it's still true that this book is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.”

      
— E
LLIOTT
S
OBER
, author of
Did Darwin Write the Origin Backwards?

“A fascinating and multifaceted tour of the radiant hopes and worst fears about humanity and its origins that Planet of the Apes evokes in everyone.”

      
— I
AN
T
ATTERSALL
, author of
Masters of the Planet: The Search for Our Human Origins

“If a few intelligent dinosaurs had survived their big extinction event, they might well be surprised and alarmed by the strange development whereby
mammals
took center stage—they seemed so small, weak, and insignificant. From being the planet of the dinosaurs Earth has become the planet of the apes. The
Planet of the Apes
movies draw out the arbitrariness of the current arrangements of world power among species. The naked ape has become the nuclear ape, but she's still an ape—a creature of some absurdity to other proud and ancient species. A stellar cast of ape philosophers has given us
Planet of the Apes and Philosophy
, proving that there may after all be something to be said for the human ape. A philosophical dinosaur might now revise his opinion of those simian upstarts: these parvenus can think!”

      
— C
OLIN
M
C
G
INN
, author of
The Power of Movies: How Screen and Mind Interact

“Whether you came for the apes and stayed for the philosophy, or came for the philosophy and stayed for the apes, either way this book is an absorbing read.”

      
— S
USAN
S
CHNEIDER
, editor,
Science Fiction and Philosophy

“This may be the best book on this topic ever written. If you're like me, once you pick it up you may never put it down. What a read!”

      
— M
ATT
T
OLMACH
, producer,
The Amazing Spider Man

“We can't know what Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, or Hume would have made of the rising of the apes, but we do have Planet of the Apes and Philosophy—not only a terrific read but highly relevant to urgent issues of our time.”

      
— D
ALE
J
AMIESON
, author of
Ethics and the Environment

“John Huss has corralled a tantalizing collection of highly original essays. Planet of the Apes makes an ideal springboard for these philosophers to dive into the morass of research, chimp consciousness, morality, and ethics. Anyone who takes movies—and the plight of animals—seriously will thoroughly enjoy Planet of the Apes and Philosophy.”

      
— E
LIZABETH
H
ESS
, author,
Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human

“This book is a must, not only for
Planet of the Apes
fans, but for anyone interested in what it means to be a primate. Fascinating and thought provoking. A great read!”

      
— R
ICK
J
AFFA AND
A
MANDA
S
ILVER
, screenwriters of
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
and
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

 

Popular Culture and Philosophy
®
Series Editor: George A. Reisch

V
OLUME
1
Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book about Everything and Nothing
(2000)

V
OLUME
2
The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer
(2001)

V
OLUME
3
The Matrix and Philosophy: Welcome to the Desert of the Real
(2002)

V
OLUME
4
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale
(2003)

V
OLUME
5
The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy: One Book to Rule Them All
(2003)

V
OLUME
9
Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts
(2004)

V
OLUME
12
Star Wars and Philosophy: More Powerful than You Can Possibly Imagine
(2005)

V
OLUME
13
Superheroes and Philosophy: Truth, Justice, and the Socratic Way
(2005)

V
OLUME
19
Monty Python and Philosophy: Nudge Nudge, Think Think!
(2006)

V
OLUME
24
Bullshit and Philosophy: Guaranteed to Get Perfect Results Every Time
(2006)

V
OLUME
25
The Beatles and Philosophy: Nothing You Can Think that Can't Be Thunk
(2006)

V
OLUME
26
South Park and Philosophy: Bigger, Longer, and More Penetrating
(2007)

V
OLUME
30
Pink Floyd and Philosophy: Careful with that Axiom, Eugene!
(2007)

V
OLUME
31
Johnny Cash and Philosophy: The Burning Ring of Truth
(2008)

V
OLUME
33
Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Mission Accomplished or Mission Frakked Up?
(2008)

V
OLUME
34
iPod and Philosophy: iCon of an ePoch
(2008)

V
OLUME
35
Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant
(2008)

V
OLUME
36
The Legend of Zelda and Philosophy: I Link Therefore I Am
(2008)

V
OLUME
37
The Wizard of Oz and Philosophy: Wicked Wisdom of the West
(2008)

V
OLUME
38
Radiohead and Philosophy: Fitter Happier More Deductive
(2009)

V
OLUME
39
Jimmy Buffett and Philosophy: The Porpoise Driven Life
(2009) Edited by Erin McKenna and Scott L. Pratt

V
OLUME
41
Stephen Colbert and Philosophy: I Am Philosophy (And So Can You!)
(2009) Edited by Aaron Allen Schiller

V
OLUME
42
Supervillains and Philosophy: Sometimes, Evil Is Its Own Reward
(2009) Edited by Ben Dyer

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OLUME
43
The Golden Compass and Philosophy: God Bites the Dust
(2009) Edited by Richard Greene and Rachel Robison

V
OLUME
44
Led Zeppelin and Philosophy: All Will Be Revealed
(2009) Edited by Scott Calef

V
OLUME
45
World of Warcraft and Philosophy: Wrath of the Philosopher King
(2009) Edited by Luke Cuddy and John Nordlinger

Volume 46
Mr. Monk and Philosophy: The Curious Case of the Defective Detective
(2010) Edited by D.E. Wittkower

Volume 47
Anime and Philosophy: Wide Eyed Wonder
(2010) Edited by Josef Steiff and Tristan D. Tamplin

V
OLUME
48
The Red Sox and Philosophy: Green Monster Meditations
(2010) Edited by Michael Macomber

V
OLUME
49
Zombies, Vampires, and Philosophy: New Life for the Undead
(2010) Edited by Richard Greene and K. Silem Mohammad

V
OLUME
50
Facebook and Philosophy: What's on Your Mind?
(2010) Edited by D.E. Wittkower

V
OLUME
51
Soccer and Philosophy: Beautiful Thoughts on the Beautiful Game
(2010) Edited by Ted Richards

V
OLUME
52
Manga and Philosophy: Fullmetal Metaphysician
(2010) Edited by Josef Steiff and Adam Barkman

V
OLUME
53
Martial Arts and Philosophy: Beating and Nothingness
(2010) Edited by Graham Priest and Damon Young

V
OLUME
54
The Onion and Philosophy: Fake News Story True, Alleges Indignant Area Professor
(2010) Edited by Sharon M. Kaye

V
OLUME
55
Doctor Who and Philosophy: Bigger on the Inside
(2010) Edited by Courtland Lewis and Paula Smithka

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OLUME
56
Dune and Philosophy: Weirding Way of the Mentat
(2011) Edited by Jeffery Nicholas

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OLUME
57
Rush and Philosophy: Heart and Mind United
(2011) Edited by Jim Berti and Durrell Bowman

V
OLUME
58
Dexter and Philosophy: Mind over Spatter
(2011) Edited by Richard Greene, George A. Reisch, and Rachel Robison-Greene

V
OLUME
59
Halo and Philosophy: Intellect Evolved
(2011) Edited by Luke Cuddy

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OLUME
60
SpongeBob SquarePants and Philosophy: Soaking Up Secrets Under the Sea!
(2011) Edited by Joseph J. Foy

V
OLUME
61
Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy: The Footprints of a Gigantic Mind
(2011) Edited by Josef Steiff

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OLUME
62
Inception and Philosophy: Ideas to Die For
(2011) Edited by Thorsten Botz-Bornstein

V
OLUME
63
Philip K. Dick and Philosophy: Do Androids Have Kindred Spirits?
(2011) Edited by D.E. Wittkower

V
OLUME
64
The Rolling Stones and Philosophy: It's Just a Thought Away
(2012) Edited by Luke Dick and George A. Reisch

V
OLUME
65
Chuck Klosterman and Philosophy: The Real and the Cereal
(2012) Edited by Seth Vannatta

V
OLUME
66
Neil Gaiman and Philosophy: Gods Gone Wild!
(2012) Edited by Tracy L. Bealer, Rachel Luria, and Wayne Yuen

V
OLUME
67
Breaking Bad and Philosophy: Badder Living through Chemistry
(2012) Edited by David R. Koepsell and Robert Arp

V
OLUME
68
The Walking Dead and Philosophy: Zombie Apocalypse Now
(2012) Edited by Wayne Yuen

V
OLUME
69
Curb Your Enthusiasm and Philosophy: Awaken the Social Assassin Within
(2012) Edited by Mark Ralkowski

V
OLUME
70
Dungeons and Dragons and Philosophy: Raiding the Temple of Wisdom
(2012) Edited by Jon Cogburn and Mark Silcox