A lighthearted meditation on the philosophical quandaries of the hit television showThe Big Bang Theory

Ever wonder what Aristotle might say about the life Sheldon Cooper leads? Why Thomas Hobbes would applaud the roommate agreement? Who Immanuel Kant would treat with "haughty derision" for weaving "un-unravelable webs?" And—most importantly—whether Wil Wheatonis truly evil? Of course you have. Bazinga!

This book mines the deep thinking of some of history's most potent philosophical minds to explore your most pressing questions aboutThe Big Bang Theory and its nerdy genius characters. You might find other philosophy books on science and cosmology, but only this one refers to Darth Vader Force-chokes, cloning Leonard Nimoy, and oompa-loompa-like engineers. Fo-shizzle.

Gives you irresistibly geek-worthy insights on your favoriteBig Bang Theory characters, story lines, and ideasExamines important themes involving ethics and virtue, science, semiotics, religion, and the human conditionBrings the thinking of some of the world's greatest philosophers to bear onThe Big Bang Theory, from Aristotle and Plato to Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Simone de Beauvoir, and more

Essential reading for everyBig Bang Theory fan, this book explores whether comic-book-wielding geeks can lead the good life, and whether they can know enough science to "tear the mask off nature and stare at the face of God."

Dean A. Kowalski is an associate professor of philosophy at University of Wisconsin-Waukesha and the author of five books, most recentlyMoral Theory at the Movies andThe Philosophy of Joss Whedon.

William Irwin is a professor of philosophy at King's College, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books as coeditor of the bestsellingThe Simpsons and Philosophy and has overseen recent titles includingHouse and Philosophy,Batman and Philosophy, andInception and Philosophy.

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction: Unraveling the Mysteries 1

Part One It All Began On A Warm Summers Evening In Greece: Aristotelian Insights

1 Aristotle on Sheldon Cooper: Ancient Greek Meets Modern Geek 7Greg Littmann

2 Youre a Sucky, Sucky Friend: Seeking Aristotelian Friendship in The Big Bang Theory 21Dean A. Kowalski

3 The Big Bang Theory on the Use and Abuse of Modern Technology 35Kenneth Wayne Sayles III

Part Two Is It Wrong To Say I Love Our Killer Robot?: Ethics And Virtue

4 Feeling Bad about Feeling Good: Is It Morally Wrong to Laugh at Sheldon? 51W. Scott Clifton

5 . . . But Is Wil Wheaton Evil? 65Donna Marie Smith

6 Do We Need a Roommate Agreement?: Pleasure, Selfishness, and Virtue in The Big Bang Theory 80Gregory L. Bock and Jeffrey L. Bock

Part Three Perhaps You Mean A Different Thing Than I Do When You Say Science: Science, Scientism, And Religion

7 Getting Fundamental about Doing Physics in The Big Bang Theory 99Jonathan Lawhead

8 Sheldon, Leonard, and Leslie: The Three Faces of Quantum Gravity 112Andrew Zimmerman Jones

9 The One Paradigm to Rule Them All: Scientism and The Big Bang Theory 128Massimo Pigliucci

10 Cooper Considerations: Science, Religion, and Family 144Adam Barkman and Dean A. Kowalski

Part Four I Need Your Opinion On A Matter Of Semiotics: Language And Meaning

11 Wittgenstein and Language Games in The Big Bang Theory 161Janelle Pötzsch

12 Im Afraid You Couldnt Be More Wrong!: Sheldon and Being Right about Being Wrong 175Adolfas Mackonis

13 The Cooper Conundrum: Good Lord, Whos Tolerating Whom? 189Ruth E. Lowe

14 The Mendacity Bifurcation 203Don Fallis

Part Five The Human Experience That Has Always Eluded Me: The Human Condition

15 Mothers and Sons of The Big Bang Theory 219Ashley Barkman

16 Penny, Sheldon, and Personal Growth through Difference 233Nicholas G. Evans

17 Deconstructing the Women of The Big Bang Theory: So Much More Than Girlfriends 244Mark D. White and Maryanne L. Fisher

The Episode Compendium: Hey, Its a Big MenuTheres Two Pages Just for Desserts 257

Contributors:But If We Were Part of the Team . . . We Could Drink for Free in Any Bar in Any College Town 261

Index: Cornucopia . . . Lets Make That Our Word of the Day 267