âBond. James Bond.â Since Sean Connery first uttered that iconic phrase in Dr. No, more than one quarter of the worldâs population has seen a 007 film. Witty and urbane, Bond seduces and kills with equal ease â often, it seems, with equal enthusiasm. This enthusiasm, coupled with his freedom to do what is forbidden to everyone else, evokes fascinating philosophical questions. Here, 15 witty, thought-provoking essays discuss hidden issues in Bondâs world, from his carnal pleasures to his license to kill. Among the lively topics explored are Bondâs relation to existentialism, including his graduation âbeyond good and evilâ; his objectification of women; the paradox of breaking the law in order to ultimately uphold it like any âstupid policemanâ; the personality of 007 in terms of Platoâs moral psychology; and the Hegelian quest for recognition evinced by Bond villains. A reference guide to all the Bond movies rounds out the bookâs many pleasures.
James Bond and Philosophy - James B. South & Jacob M. Held
âBond. James Bond.â Since Sean Connery first uttered that iconic phrase in Dr. No, more than one quarter of the worldâs population has seen a 007 film. Witty and urbane, Bond seduces and kills with equal ease â often, it seems, with equal enthusiasm. This enthusiasm, coupled with his freedom to do what is forbidden to everyone else, evokes fascinating philosophical questions. Here, 15 witty, thought-provoking essays discuss hidden issues in Bondâs world, from his carnal pleasures to his license to kill. Among the lively topics explored are Bondâs relation to existentialism, including his graduation âbeyond good and evilâ; his objectification of women; the paradox of breaking the law in order to ultimately uphold it like any âstupid policemanâ; the personality of 007 in terms of Platoâs moral psychology; and the Hegelian quest for recognition evinced by Bond villains. A reference guide to all the Bond movies rounds out the bookâs many pleasures.