Twilight and Philosophy: Vampires, Vegetarians, and the Pursuit of Immortality (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series)

The first look at the philosophy behind Stephenie Meyer's bestselling Twilight series Bella and Edward, and their family and friends, have faced countless dangers and philosophical dilemmas in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight novels. This book is the first to explore them, drawing on the wisdom of philosophical heavyweights to answer essential questions such as: What do the struggles of "vegetarian" vampires who control their biological urge for human blood say about free will? Are vampires morally absolved if they kill only animals and not people? From a feminist perspective, is Edward a romantic hero or is he just a stalker? Is Jacob "better" for Bella than Edward? As absorbing as the Meyer novels themselves, Twilight and Philosophy: * Gives you a new perspective on Twilight characters, storylines, and themes * Helps you gain fresh insights into the Twilight novels and movies * Features an irresistible combination of vampires, romance, and philosophy Twilight and Philosophy is a must-have companion for every Twilight fan, whether you're new to the series or have followed it since the beginning. Rebecca Housel coedited X-Men and Philosophy. A former professor of English and popular culture in western New York, she now serves on editorial advisory boards for the Journal of Popular Culture and the Journal of American Culture. Also an author of middle-grade fiction, she is currently working on a new young adult novel. J. Jeremy Wisnewski is an assistant professor of philosophy at Hartwick College, the coeditor of X-Men and Philosophy, and the editor of Family Guy and Philosophy and The Office and Philosophy. William Irwin is a professor of philosophy at King's College. He originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books as coeditor of the bestselling The Simpsons and Philosophy and has overseen recent titles, including Batman and Philosophy, House and Philosophy, and Watchmen and Philosophy. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Supernatural Humans We Can't Live Without. Introduction: Undead Wisdom. PART ONE TWILIGHT. 1 You Look Good Enough to Eat: Love, Madness, and the Food Analogy (George A. Dunn). 2 Dying to Eat: The Vegetarian Ethics of Twilight (Jean Kazez). 3 Can a Vampire Be a Person? (Nicolas Michaud). 4 Carlisle: More Compassionate Than a Speeding Bullet? (Andrew Terjesen and Jenny Terjesen). PART TWO NEW MOON. 5 Vampire-Dmmerung: What Can Twilight Tell Us about God? (Peter S. Fosl and Eli Fosl). 6 To Bite or Not to Bite: Twilight, Immortality, and the Meaning of Life (Brendan Shea). 7 Mind Reading and Morality: The Moral Hazards of Being Edward (Eric Silverman). 8 Love and Authority among Wolves (Sara Worley). PART THREE ECLIPSE. 9 Bella Swan and Sarah Palin: All the Old Myths Are Not True (Naomi Zack). 10 Vampire Love: The Second Sex Negotiates the Twenty-first Century (Bonnie Mann). 11 Edward Cullen and Bella Swan: Byronic and Feminist Heroes . . . or Not (Abigail E. Myers). 12 Undead Patriarchy and the Possibility of Love (Leah McClimans and J. Jeremy Wisnewski). 13 The "Real" Danger: Fact vs. Fiction for the Girl Audience (Rebecca Housel). PART FOUR BREAKING DAWN. 14 Twilight of an Idol: Our Fatal Attraction to Vampires (Jennifer L. McMahon). 15 Bella's Vampire Semiotics (Dennis Knepp). 16 Space, Time, and Vampire Ontology (Philip Puszczalowski). 17 For the Strength of Bella? Meyer, Vampires, and Mormonism (Marc E. Shaw). 18 The Tao of Jacob (Rebecca Housel). CONTRIBUTORS: Ladies and Gentlemen, Introducing the Stars of Our Show, Humans, Vampires, and Shape-Shifters Alike. INDEX: For Those Who Can't Read Minds.