The Big Bang Theory and Philosophy: Rock, Paper, Scissors, Aristotle, Locke
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: "Unraveling the Mysteries"
Part One: "It all Began on a Warm Summer's Evening in Greece": Aristotelian Insights
1: Aristotle on Sheldon Cooper: Ancient Greek Meets Modern Geek
The Life of the Mind
The Ancient Greek and the Modern Geek
The Joy of Geekdom
Geeky Fun and the Purpose of Life
Trial of a Nerd
The Aristotle-Cooper Evaluation
Notes
2: "You're a Sucky, Sucky Friend": Seeking Aristotelian Friendship in The Big Bang Theory
"Do You Have Any Books about Making Friends?"
"Did You Ever Consider Making Friends by Being . . . Pleasant?"
"Kripke! What'd You Say of the Idea of You and I Becoming Friends?"
"To Make Friends . . . Take an Interest in Their Lives"
"That's Insane on the Face of It"
"There Is No Algorithm for Making Friends!"
Notes
3: The Big Bang Theory on the Use and Abuse of Modern Technology
Some Healthy Webcam-ing
Unhealthy Interactions
Virtual Vengeance
Aristotle's Mean
Aristotle in Television
Bright and Shiny Penny
Where Do We Go?
Notes
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?
Lorre and Prady on Sheldon Cooper
Diagnosing Sheldon I: Cognitive Impairment
Diagnosing Sheldon II: Sociability
Diagnosing Sheldon III: Functionality
What Is a Disability?
Notes
5: . . . But Is Wil Wheaton Evil?
The Wheaton Occurrences
The Theodicy Corollary
Beyond Good and Evil Wilโor, the Wrath of Sheldon
The Name-Calling and Line-Cutting Topologies
The Comic Book Paradigm
The Inscrutability Factor
Notes
6: Do We Need a Roommate Agreement?: Pleasure, Selfishness, and Virtue in The Big Bang Theory
The Giant "Hedon" Collider
The Egoism Polarization
The Social Contract Instability
The Aristotelian Virtue Vortex
The Dennis Kim Conundrum
Notes
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
Studies in Sheldonology
A Unified Theory of Sheldon?
Resolving a "Nonlovers" Quarrel (about Science)
The Pragmatics of the Special Sciences
Notes
8: Sheldon, Leonard, and Leslie: The Three Faces of Quantum Gravity
The Methods of Science
Theoretical "Discoveries"
The String Theory Paradigm
Hang-Ups, Breakups, and New Beginnings
Notes
9: The One Paradigm to Rule Them All: Scientism and The Big Bang Theory
The Data
The Background
The Controversy
The Ramifications
The Analysis
Notes
10: Cooper Considerations: Science, Religion, and Family
Magic Maharaja Macs?
Scientist Sons Scolded
Monumental Math Mysteries
Lifelong Lessons
Notes
Part Four: "I Need Your Opinion on a Matter of Semiotics": Language and Meaning
11: Wittgenstein and Language Games in The Big Bang Theory
"The Philosophy Is Theoretical, but the Fun Is Real"
"So, What Does That Mean?"
"Be Serious, We're Playing a Game Here"
"Figured Out the Magic Trick Yet?"
"It's a Nonoptional Social Convention," Stupid!
"Believe in Magic, You Muggle!"
Notes
12: "I'm Afraid You Couldn't Be More Wrong!": Sheldon and Being Right about Being Wrong
"More Wrong?"
"In None of Them Am I Dancing"
"I Think You Mean I'm Improbable"
The Cooper-Wrongness Paradox
"Of Course I'm RightโWhat Are the Odds I'd Be Wrong Twice in One Week?"
"Throw All the French around You Want, It Doesn't Make You Right."
Notes
13: The Cooper Conundrum: Good Lord, Who's Tolerating Whom?
Who's Tolerating Whom?
Worlds Apart or Words Apart?
The Mutual Exclusion Dogma
World Speak or Person Speak
The Tolerance Tally
Notes
14: The Mendacity Bifurcation
Should We Be Learning How to Lie Better?
Should We Listen to What Sheldon Has to Say about Lying?
Is Sheldon Really a Bad Liar?
Does Lying Require Intending to Deceive?
Does Lying Require Intending to Violate a Social Convention?
Notes
Part Five: "The Human Experience that Has Always Eluded Me": The Human Condition
15: Mothers and Sons of The Big Bang Theory
Raj: The "Selective Mutism" Mutant
Sheldon: Roots in Fundamental(ist) Particles
Howard: A Sociological Clichรฉ
Leonard: Hofstadter's Monkey
Aristotle, Justice, and Special Obligations
Cognitive Dissonance and Psychological Courage
Notes
16: Penny, Sheldon, and Personal Growth through Difference
Are Penny and Sheldon Really Friends?
Penny's and Sheldon's Friendship and the Importance of Difference
Modern and Classical Friendship
Good Friendship and Good Friends
Notes
17: Deconstructing the Women of The Big Bang Theory: So Much More Than Girlfriends
The Big Bang Gender Theory
"It's a Warm Summer Evening in Ancient Greece . . ."
The Big Bang Performativity
"Come for the BreastsโStay for the Brains."
Knock Knock . . . Manhood?
White and Fisher Productions #1
Notes
The Episode Compendium: "Hey, It's a Big MenuโThere's Two Pages Just for Desserts"
Contributors: "But If We Were Part of the Team . . . We Could Drink for Free in Any Bar in Any College Town"
Index: "Cornucopia . . . Let's Make That Our Word of the Day"