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Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar... Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes
This New York Times bestseller is the hilarious philosophy course everyone wishes they'd had in school.
Outrageously funny, Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar... has been a breakout bestseller ever since authors--and born vaudevillians--Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein did their schtick on NPR's Weekend Edition. Lively, original, and powerfully informative, Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar... is a not-so-reverent crash course through the great philosophical thinkers and traditions, from Existentialism (What do Hegel and Bette Midler have in common?) to Logic (Sherlock Holmes never deduced anything). Philosophy 101 for those who like to take the heavy stuff lightly, this is a joy to read--and finally, it all makes sense!
And now, you can read Daniel Klein's further musings on life and philosophy in Travels with Epicurus and Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change it.
Outrageously funny, Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar... has been a breakout bestseller ever since authors--and born vaudevillians--Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein did their schtick on NPR's Weekend Edition. Lively, original, and powerfully informative, Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar... is a not-so-reverent crash course through the great philosophical thinkers and traditions, from Existentialism (What do Hegel and Bette Midler have in common?) to Logic (Sherlock Holmes never deduced anything). Philosophy 101 for those who like to take the heavy stuff lightly, this is a joy to read--and finally, it all makes sense!
And now, you can read Daniel Klein's further musings on life and philosophy in Travels with Epicurus and Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change it.
215 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
1,824 people are currently reading
14.6k people want to read
About the author
Thomas Cathcart
14books150followersThomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein wrote the bestselling Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes, which will be translated into more than a dozen languages. Not bad for a couple of philosophy majors from Harvard who tried on various careers after graduation. Tom worked with street gangs in Chicago, doctors at Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and dropped in and out of divinity schools. Dan has written jokes for various comedians, including Flip Wilson and Lily Tomlin. Tom lives on Cape Cod with his wife. Dan lives in the Berkshires with his wife. Together, they are also authors of the politically incorrect book of daily affirmations Macho Meditations."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,025 reviews
November 17, 2015
DIMITRI: They laughed when we said we'd write a book explaining philosophy entirely through jokes.
TASSO: Well, they're not laughing now!
TASSO: Well, they're not laughing now!
July 5, 2016
Although I appreciate the philosophical crash course, couldn't the authors consider more jokes (a rough eye-balling might equate about 90% of them) that aren't at the expense of women?
I suppose their section on "Feminist Philosophy" aims to answer nay-sayers. No answers for this reader, though. I don't appreciate jokesters who hide behind a cloud of "politically incorrect feminism" then chastise an audience they purport won't get their jokes.
Boo.
Not sure why it's still so acceptable to tell "Jew" and "dame" jokes. If it's so okay, then why not spin a few racial/queer epithets out for mass hilarity? Maybe "cunt" is just so much funnier than "fag?"
I suppose their section on "Feminist Philosophy" aims to answer nay-sayers. No answers for this reader, though. I don't appreciate jokesters who hide behind a cloud of "politically incorrect feminism" then chastise an audience they purport won't get their jokes.
Boo.
Not sure why it's still so acceptable to tell "Jew" and "dame" jokes. If it's so okay, then why not spin a few racial/queer epithets out for mass hilarity? Maybe "cunt" is just so much funnier than "fag?"
June 13, 2024
"From Leibniz’s rationalist perspective, the world simply
is what it is;
The joke clarifies the obvious truth that optimism and pessimism are personal attitudes that have nothing to do with Leibniz’s neutral, rational description of the world.
The optimist says, “The glass is half full.�
The pessimist says, “The glass is half empty.�
The rationalist says, “This glass is twice as big as it needs
to be.�"
Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar is a fun read for anyone interested in learning about a few basic philosophical topics, made much more fun by the delivery in the form of jokes, followed by a brief description. The book is divided into ten sections, each of which covers a significant philosophical approach or field, such as Metaphysics, Ethics, or Existentialism, and addresses each one in a lighthearted manner. It is not a textbook, and it would be most enjoyable to someone looking for a brief overview of different philosophical ideas, or to someone who already has a basic understanding of philosophy and would enjoy the jokes, stories, and contemporary examples.
The theory is illustrated through real-life examples that most people can relate to jokes. Although not all of them made me chuckle, they all had a tongue-in-cheek nerdy vibe about them. As you'd expect from two philosophy nerds discussing how jokes are philosophy and vice versa.
You might like to check out more similar books
is what it is;
The joke clarifies the obvious truth that optimism and pessimism are personal attitudes that have nothing to do with Leibniz’s neutral, rational description of the world.
The optimist says, “The glass is half full.�
The pessimist says, “The glass is half empty.�
The rationalist says, “This glass is twice as big as it needs
to be.�"
Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar is a fun read for anyone interested in learning about a few basic philosophical topics, made much more fun by the delivery in the form of jokes, followed by a brief description. The book is divided into ten sections, each of which covers a significant philosophical approach or field, such as Metaphysics, Ethics, or Existentialism, and addresses each one in a lighthearted manner. It is not a textbook, and it would be most enjoyable to someone looking for a brief overview of different philosophical ideas, or to someone who already has a basic understanding of philosophy and would enjoy the jokes, stories, and contemporary examples.
The theory is illustrated through real-life examples that most people can relate to jokes. Although not all of them made me chuckle, they all had a tongue-in-cheek nerdy vibe about them. As you'd expect from two philosophy nerds discussing how jokes are philosophy and vice versa.
You might like to check out more similar books
December 7, 2016
Jokes can be highly philosophical. I remember a famous comedy scene from a Malayalam movie, where a guy is bemoaning that he is ugly. He had been switched at birth: so his consolation is - "But this is not the real me: the real me is fair and handsome, living somewhere else with his foster parents..."
A classic example of a philosophical answer to the question - "Who/ what art thou?"
This book is filled with similar jokes, which the authors link to various philosophical schools of thought. Some of the links are pretty far-fetched: but it's a fun introduction to Western philosophy, and very easy to read.
A classic example of a philosophical answer to the question - "Who/ what art thou?"
This book is filled with similar jokes, which the authors link to various philosophical schools of thought. Some of the links are pretty far-fetched: but it's a fun introduction to Western philosophy, and very easy to read.
June 14, 2020
شکسپیر میگه:
اگر میخواهی� به چیزهایی فراتر از آنچه در آسمان و زمین برسید، رویا ببینید و یا فلسفه بخوانید
فلسفه هرگز به� صورت مستقیم شما را نمیخواند� بلکه شما را متعجب میکن� و شاید گهگاهی از این تعجب خندهتا� میگیر�:
مثلِ مثال فلسفه رواقیگر� زیر:
آقا و خانم کوپر وارد نطب دندان پزشکی شدند و آقای کوپر به سرعت به سراغ اصل مطلب رفت.
-آقای دکتر، هیچ احتیاجی به گاز خنده،آمپول بیحس� و از این جور چیزا نیست،فقط میخوا� تند و سریع و ارزون دندون رو بکشی.
دندانپزش� با تحسین گفت:
-چه شجاعتی، حالا کدوم دندون هست؟
آقای کوپر رو به خانومش کرد و گفت:
-عزیزم، لطفاً دهنت رو وا کن
اگر به فلسفه علاقه داشته باشید، شاید با خودتون بگید: چند تا کتاب این فلاسفه رو میخوون� و دیگه درِ فلسفه رو تخته میکنم� چون ما دیگه همه چیز رو فهمیدیم.
ولی خوب یا بد، هیچ آدم عادی حتی اگر شیفته فلسفه باشه، نمیتوونه تمام کتابها، مقالات و نامهها� فلاسفه رو بخوونه و بفهمه!
اگر فرض محال، ممکن شود، در این صورت، آن آدم فرا دیوانه میش�.
چون مغز،جسم و روح انسان کشش آن همه دیوانگی را ندارد.�
برای فلسفه خواندن باید دیوانه بود اما نه فراتر از آن.
اما جای امیدواریست که میتوان� آن موضوع را که علاقه داشت، تا جایی که میشو� بخواند و دریابد و بنویسد و بفهمد و حتی خود فیلسوفی شود که از معلمش جلو زده است.
این رو به یاد داشته باشید که:
هرگز فیلسوف قبل از فیلسوف بعدی، اشتباه نمیگوید� بلکه او مسئلها� مطرح میکن� برای فیلسوف بعد از خود
اما خودِ کتاب طنز خاصی نداشت اما مثالها� جالبی داشت که بعضیه� رو خوونده یا شنیده بودم
ولیکن چیزی که در این کتاب برای من جدید بود، فصل هفتم آن فلسفه زبان است.
فلسفه زبان که از فلسفه ویتگنشتاین میآی� میگوی� تمام مسائل و معضلات فلسفی، بخاطر کاربرد غلط زبان است.
و رایل نیز میگوی� بعضی جملات وقتی که در وجه اخباری بیان شود، با اینکه معنادار یا حتی درستاند� اما میتوانن� گمراه کننده باشند. همین جملهه� در مراودات عادی به کار رفته شود،میدانن� که مقصود این جملات چیست. اما اگر در تحلیل فلسفی وارد شود،ممکن است موجب اعتقاد به وجود اشیای غیرواقعی و غیرتجربی شود،پس درست است که به ظواهر دستوری اعتماد نکنیم.
فرد بیابانگرد� برای اولین بار وارد جنگل شد و نظرش را در این مورد جویا شدند.او پاسخ داد: راستش، درخته� اونقدر زیاد بودند، که نتونستم جنگل را ببینم
باقی� فصول برای من تکراری بود اما بدک نبود.
و یک پند:
هیچوقت همچین کتابهایی رو برای شروع فلسفه نخوانید.
اگر میخواهی� به چیزهایی فراتر از آنچه در آسمان و زمین برسید، رویا ببینید و یا فلسفه بخوانید
فلسفه هرگز به� صورت مستقیم شما را نمیخواند� بلکه شما را متعجب میکن� و شاید گهگاهی از این تعجب خندهتا� میگیر�:
مثلِ مثال فلسفه رواقیگر� زیر:
آقا و خانم کوپر وارد نطب دندان پزشکی شدند و آقای کوپر به سرعت به سراغ اصل مطلب رفت.
-آقای دکتر، هیچ احتیاجی به گاز خنده،آمپول بیحس� و از این جور چیزا نیست،فقط میخوا� تند و سریع و ارزون دندون رو بکشی.
دندانپزش� با تحسین گفت:
-چه شجاعتی، حالا کدوم دندون هست؟
آقای کوپر رو به خانومش کرد و گفت:
-عزیزم، لطفاً دهنت رو وا کن
اگر به فلسفه علاقه داشته باشید، شاید با خودتون بگید: چند تا کتاب این فلاسفه رو میخوون� و دیگه درِ فلسفه رو تخته میکنم� چون ما دیگه همه چیز رو فهمیدیم.
ولی خوب یا بد، هیچ آدم عادی حتی اگر شیفته فلسفه باشه، نمیتوونه تمام کتابها، مقالات و نامهها� فلاسفه رو بخوونه و بفهمه!
اگر فرض محال، ممکن شود، در این صورت، آن آدم فرا دیوانه میش�.
چون مغز،جسم و روح انسان کشش آن همه دیوانگی را ندارد.�
برای فلسفه خواندن باید دیوانه بود اما نه فراتر از آن.
اما جای امیدواریست که میتوان� آن موضوع را که علاقه داشت، تا جایی که میشو� بخواند و دریابد و بنویسد و بفهمد و حتی خود فیلسوفی شود که از معلمش جلو زده است.
این رو به یاد داشته باشید که:
هرگز فیلسوف قبل از فیلسوف بعدی، اشتباه نمیگوید� بلکه او مسئلها� مطرح میکن� برای فیلسوف بعد از خود
اما خودِ کتاب طنز خاصی نداشت اما مثالها� جالبی داشت که بعضیه� رو خوونده یا شنیده بودم
ولیکن چیزی که در این کتاب برای من جدید بود، فصل هفتم آن فلسفه زبان است.
فلسفه زبان که از فلسفه ویتگنشتاین میآی� میگوی� تمام مسائل و معضلات فلسفی، بخاطر کاربرد غلط زبان است.
و رایل نیز میگوی� بعضی جملات وقتی که در وجه اخباری بیان شود، با اینکه معنادار یا حتی درستاند� اما میتوانن� گمراه کننده باشند. همین جملهه� در مراودات عادی به کار رفته شود،میدانن� که مقصود این جملات چیست. اما اگر در تحلیل فلسفی وارد شود،ممکن است موجب اعتقاد به وجود اشیای غیرواقعی و غیرتجربی شود،پس درست است که به ظواهر دستوری اعتماد نکنیم.
فرد بیابانگرد� برای اولین بار وارد جنگل شد و نظرش را در این مورد جویا شدند.او پاسخ داد: راستش، درخته� اونقدر زیاد بودند، که نتونستم جنگل را ببینم
باقی� فصول برای من تکراری بود اما بدک نبود.
و یک پند:
هیچوقت همچین کتابهایی رو برای شروع فلسفه نخوانید.
October 4, 2013
Là th� này, một hôm 2 anh tác gi� buồn đời vì hết tiền, vào quán bar tán láo và làm li giải sầu. lúc ngà ngà, anh Tom nói với anh Dan, "anh biết triết học là gì không?" "là dùng đám ngôn t� phức tạp đ� nói v� những điều đơn giản." "Yeap, tôi có k� hoạch kiếm tiền đ� dành cho v� hưu đây, tham gia ko?". Dan thì đang chật vật v� tiền, nghe th� như bắt được vàng: "k� hoạch gì?" "dựa trên việc chúng ta có cái mác tốt nghiệp triết học Harvard và anh chuyên đi viết truyện cười." "� th� là chúng ta sưu tập truyện cười rồi lí giải bằng ngôn t� triết học!" "bingo!"
Th� là cuối cùng nh� mác harvard và m� sưu tập chiện cười, h� đã thành công trong việc có tiền dưỡng già.
Đừng hi vọng triết với triếc gì � cuốn sách này, mua vui cũng được một vài trống canh. thích đọc truyện cười thì đọc thôi, ch� ch� có ý nghĩa gì v� mặt triết học đâu
Th� là cuối cùng nh� mác harvard và m� sưu tập chiện cười, h� đã thành công trong việc có tiền dưỡng già.
Đừng hi vọng triết với triếc gì � cuốn sách này, mua vui cũng được một vài trống canh. thích đọc truyện cười thì đọc thôi, ch� ch� có ý nghĩa gì v� mặt triết học đâu
October 27, 2021
A man walks into a pet store and asks to see the parrots. The store owner shows him two beautiful ones out on the floor. "This one is $5,000 and the other is $10,000," he says.
"Wow!" says the man. "What does the $5,000 one do?"
"This parrot can sing every aria Mozart wrote," says the store owner.
"And the other?"
"He sings Wagner's entire Ring cycle. There's another parrot out back for $30,000."
"Holy moley! What does he do?"
"Nothing that I've heard, but the other two call him 'Maestro'."
"Wow!" says the man. "What does the $5,000 one do?"
"This parrot can sing every aria Mozart wrote," says the store owner.
"And the other?"
"He sings Wagner's entire Ring cycle. There's another parrot out back for $30,000."
"Holy moley! What does he do?"
"Nothing that I've heard, but the other two call him 'Maestro'."
September 6, 2016
Single Quote Review:
“A serious and good philosophical work could be written consisting entirely of jokes.�
~ Ludwig Wittgenstein
May 6, 2015
The jokes are a bit lame and the main premises of each philosopher are really skirted over. Nonetheless, a good gag-gift for a student embarking on a philosophy class, for any business-type person you can't think what to buy and to put in the bathroom, to glance at occasionally. (And then to come out and bore everyone with the latest old codswallop joke you've read).
Read
February 2, 2018Introduction to philosophy with a joke on every page. Read it a while ago, can't remember any of the philosophy, sadly there comes a point when I notice how unmemorable I find many books, but I remember a joke about Moses and Jesus playing golf which I thought was rather good.
September 4, 2011
This book has two critical flaws: it's not funny and it's not informative. This... is bad. I'd be fine with funny jokes that are kind of irrelevant in a humor-focused book, or not-all-that-funny jokes that nevertheless illustrated a philosophical point well in a "make learning fun!" textbook. Yet this book manages neither. It really should not have sold as well as it did.
Shame, because this *kind* of book is totally up my alley. Just... it's such a shallow overview of philosophies, and often times inaccurate. And the jokes are just lame-o, and occasionally even offensive ("lol raep" etc.). The sole virtue the book has is being easy-reading - since so little time is spent covering any particular philosophical concept, you can pretty much open the book up anywhere and read and be fine. This is probably the main reason the book sold decently, I suspect.
Shame, because this *kind* of book is totally up my alley. Just... it's such a shallow overview of philosophies, and often times inaccurate. And the jokes are just lame-o, and occasionally even offensive ("lol raep" etc.). The sole virtue the book has is being easy-reading - since so little time is spent covering any particular philosophical concept, you can pretty much open the book up anywhere and read and be fine. This is probably the main reason the book sold decently, I suspect.
October 14, 2007
Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar... Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes by Thomas Catchart and Daniel Klein is a beautifully constructed and deceptively short book. It's one of those books that is nice to hold, nice to flip through and nice to read random snippets from. The jokes come in handy for the random reading approach.
But... this book is also a very solid introduction to philosophy and logic. If read slowly and thoroughly, one can learn a solid foundation of the important principals of philosophy. The book is even color coded to quickly let the reader know what is being covered. Broad sweeping statements about a given subject are in brown serif text. Further explanations are given in a standard looking serif font. The jokes come in a bold sans-serif font. There are also cute one pane comics to bring important points home at the end of sections.
I have to admit that there were times when I had to set the book aside because I found my mind wandering. It is a heavy subject in a light volume. When reading it, take your time. Read slowly. Maybe read the jokes first and then go back and fill in the blanks with the explanations. You will come away laughing and having learned a thing or two about philosophy.
But... this book is also a very solid introduction to philosophy and logic. If read slowly and thoroughly, one can learn a solid foundation of the important principals of philosophy. The book is even color coded to quickly let the reader know what is being covered. Broad sweeping statements about a given subject are in brown serif text. Further explanations are given in a standard looking serif font. The jokes come in a bold sans-serif font. There are also cute one pane comics to bring important points home at the end of sections.
I have to admit that there were times when I had to set the book aside because I found my mind wandering. It is a heavy subject in a light volume. When reading it, take your time. Read slowly. Maybe read the jokes first and then go back and fill in the blanks with the explanations. You will come away laughing and having learned a thing or two about philosophy.
March 13, 2024
DNF.
What I did read of it was funny and I did appreciate the combination of philosophy with jokes. However it got a bit tiresome after a bit. It was not THAT funny.
Also one has to understand that for a small book, this one packs quite a punch. It was surprising to me how LONG this book is despite not originally looking so. What can I say? After a couple dozen pages of jokes it gets old. I still have the book in fact it is right near my television so I may finish it at at some point. It is fun for a time but not something I could read in one sitting.
What I did read of it was funny and I did appreciate the combination of philosophy with jokes. However it got a bit tiresome after a bit. It was not THAT funny.
Also one has to understand that for a small book, this one packs quite a punch. It was surprising to me how LONG this book is despite not originally looking so. What can I say? After a couple dozen pages of jokes it gets old. I still have the book in fact it is right near my television so I may finish it at at some point. It is fun for a time but not something I could read in one sitting.
September 1, 2016
Great introduction to some of the more difficult philosophical concepts through the use of jokes.
January 14, 2009
Like most Liberal Arts undergrads, I took a few philosophy courses while I was in college. In fact, my sophomore philosophy final has the distinction of being the only one I have ever actually slept through. My roommate woke me up at 11:30 and said, "Didn't you have a final this morning?" I don't remember anything between that moment and arriving in the professor's office, apologizing profusely.
The point is, philosophy never really made an impact on me. I mean, I get it - Philosophy is supposed to be the essence of what makes us human, the ability to think about the way we think about the world. Dolphins and monkeys may be clever, but do they sit around and ponder whether there's actually a real world out there or if it is only a product of our senses? I doubt it, as it seem like they're more preoccupied with frolicking around and having sex, which means that Douglas Adams really was on to something.
I don't quite get the kick out of philosophy that I feel like I'm "supposed" to, being an educated, intelligent, un-American Elitist and all that, so I'm glad that someone has boiled down four millennia of human thought into a 200-page joke book. Definitely more my speed.
The book begins with Aristotle and his belief in a telos, an ultimate purpose for everything, and continues on through ethics, political philosophy, and religious philosophy, as well as existentialism, logic, epistemology and much, much more. Be warned - if you already know a lot about philosophy, then there's really nothing new in this book for you except the gags. It's written as a kind of Philo 101, for people who've always wanted to know about the different branches of philosophy, but always fell asleep fifteen minutes into the lecture.
By using jokes, the authors make complex philosophical and logical ideas much more immediate and understandable. Take post hoc ergo propter hoc, for example. I know what the Latin means - "After this, therefore because of this," which is a definition that never struck me as being any clearer than the original Latin. As a logical fallacy, I never really convinced myself that I understood what it meant, until I read this joke. (warning: high bawdiness content follows):
I think these guys are onto something, too. Philosophy has always been the pursuit of the super-intellectual, and anyone who tells you, "I'm a philosopher" is assumed to say next, "And would you like fries with that?" Being an intellectual in America is hard enough as it is, but once you start trying to deconstruct the very essence of what "good" means, much less whether it is actually worth being good, people start to look at you funny.
But tell folks a joke, and all that erudite navel-gazing becomes crystal clear. Of course the GOP is run by Utilitarians - this joke makes perfect sense:
If you're an old hand at philosophy, check it out for the jokes - there are plenty of good ones in there. If you're new to philosophy, or you were put off by the classes you took in college, check it out. You're not as dumb as your philo teacher made you feel. All you needed was the right sort of explanation.
The point is, philosophy never really made an impact on me. I mean, I get it - Philosophy is supposed to be the essence of what makes us human, the ability to think about the way we think about the world. Dolphins and monkeys may be clever, but do they sit around and ponder whether there's actually a real world out there or if it is only a product of our senses? I doubt it, as it seem like they're more preoccupied with frolicking around and having sex, which means that Douglas Adams really was on to something.
I don't quite get the kick out of philosophy that I feel like I'm "supposed" to, being an educated, intelligent, un-American Elitist and all that, so I'm glad that someone has boiled down four millennia of human thought into a 200-page joke book. Definitely more my speed.
The book begins with Aristotle and his belief in a telos, an ultimate purpose for everything, and continues on through ethics, political philosophy, and religious philosophy, as well as existentialism, logic, epistemology and much, much more. Be warned - if you already know a lot about philosophy, then there's really nothing new in this book for you except the gags. It's written as a kind of Philo 101, for people who've always wanted to know about the different branches of philosophy, but always fell asleep fifteen minutes into the lecture.
By using jokes, the authors make complex philosophical and logical ideas much more immediate and understandable. Take post hoc ergo propter hoc, for example. I know what the Latin means - "After this, therefore because of this," which is a definition that never struck me as being any clearer than the original Latin. As a logical fallacy, I never really convinced myself that I understood what it meant, until I read this joke. (warning: high bawdiness content follows):
An older man marries a younger lady, and they're truly in love. However, no matter what the old man does, he is unable to satisfy his young bride sexually. He tries everything, but cannot finish the deed, so to speak.See? Now I get it! Post hoc is where you assume that because event B happened after event A, event A caused event B. No amount of hypotheticals or dull as dirt lectures have ever explained that to me quite as well as this one ribald joke.
So, they go to a sexual therapist, who makes a rather unusual suggestion. "Hire a handsome young man," the therapist says, "and have him stand over the bed and wave a towel over you while you make love. This will help your wife fantasize, and should help her have an orgasm." So they follow the therapist's advice, hire a handsome young man, and try it out. But still, no success.
They return to the therapist, who thinks for a moment and says, "Okay, why not reverse it? Have the young man make love to your wife while you wave a towel over them?" They return home, and the young man climbs into bed with the young wife, while her husband waves a towel vigorously. Within minutes, the wife has an amazing, ear-splitting orgasm.
The husband smiles, looks at the young man and says, "There, you idiot - that's how you wave a towel!
I think these guys are onto something, too. Philosophy has always been the pursuit of the super-intellectual, and anyone who tells you, "I'm a philosopher" is assumed to say next, "And would you like fries with that?" Being an intellectual in America is hard enough as it is, but once you start trying to deconstruct the very essence of what "good" means, much less whether it is actually worth being good, people start to look at you funny.
But tell folks a joke, and all that erudite navel-gazing becomes crystal clear. Of course the GOP is run by Utilitarians - this joke makes perfect sense:
A young widow belongs to a country club, where she enjoys sunning herself by the pool. One day, she sees a handsome stranger poolside, so she sits next to him and says, "I don't think I've seen you here before."Just replace the young widow with Dick Cheney and the handsome man with, say, Halliburton and you have yourself the GOP in a nutshell!
"You wouldn't have," he said. "I've been in prison for the last twenty years."
"Good heavens," she said. "What did you do?"
"I murdered my wife," he replies.
"Ah," she says. "So you're single!"
If you're an old hand at philosophy, check it out for the jokes - there are plenty of good ones in there. If you're new to philosophy, or you were put off by the classes you took in college, check it out. You're not as dumb as your philo teacher made you feel. All you needed was the right sort of explanation.
January 26, 2021
God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit walk into a bar, and the bartender says, "I prayed for you guys to duck."
March 17, 2015
The book is about philosophy. And I didn't understand a thing. But I laughed a lot. Guess it's enough for a good book, yah?
July 16, 2017
Tập truyện cười đấy, chẳng có triết có trát gì đâu.
Có những chuyện cũng vui lắm:
Đồng chí God gọi Đam và Va lên tặng mỗi người một món quà.
- món th� nhất là có th� đái khi đứng? Ai muốn nào?
Đam nói liền:
- đứng đái? The sound is great! Super cool! Con lấy.
God mỉm cười:
- you got it! Món kia cho bé Va nhé - cực khoái nhiều lần.
Tào lao lắm luôn :))
Có những chuyện cũng vui lắm:
Đồng chí God gọi Đam và Va lên tặng mỗi người một món quà.
- món th� nhất là có th� đái khi đứng? Ai muốn nào?
Đam nói liền:
- đứng đái? The sound is great! Super cool! Con lấy.
God mỉm cười:
- you got it! Món kia cho bé Va nhé - cực khoái nhiều lần.
Tào lao lắm luôn :))
December 29, 2021
For the weeks I had this I laughed myself to sleep every night.
The idea of a philosophical history illustrated through jokes is crazy appealing for those of us who suffered through Descartes and his buddies. I loved the voices and even finally understood a few of the thornier conundrums that I never could relate to.
"Yes, I can see the plan will work in practice, but will it work in theory?"
April 14, 2019
Okuması keyifli, çünkü her duruma özgü bir fıkra bulunmuş. Ama yine de kavramları anlamak zor, liseden beri felsefe konusunda zorluk yaşıyorum :)
February 17, 2008
This is definitely a "light read." It touches upon a lot of different philosophical ideas, sprinkled with jokes (most funny, some hilarious) that bear some link to the topic at hand. For example, in a discussion of existential angst, we get this zinger (p.120):
Norman began to hyperventilate when he saw the doctor. "I'm sure I've got liver disease."
"That's ridiculous," said the doctor. "You'd never know if you had liver disease. There's no discomfort of any kind."
"Exactly!" said Norman. "Those are my precise symptoms."
Or, in a discussion about relativity, we get this one (p.173):
A snail was mugged by two turtles. When the police asked him what happened, he said, "I don't know. It all happened so fast."
This book is a great way to get teenagers interested in philosophy. It does a decent job of defining a number of terms that come up in many philosophical discussions -- especially discussion of philosophical history. From a priori and ding an sich to reductio ad absurdem and utilitarianism, this book explains many of the tools and ideas of philosophy in light-hearted and easy-to-understand way. And there's even a handy glossary!
Norman began to hyperventilate when he saw the doctor. "I'm sure I've got liver disease."
"That's ridiculous," said the doctor. "You'd never know if you had liver disease. There's no discomfort of any kind."
"Exactly!" said Norman. "Those are my precise symptoms."
Or, in a discussion about relativity, we get this one (p.173):
A snail was mugged by two turtles. When the police asked him what happened, he said, "I don't know. It all happened so fast."
This book is a great way to get teenagers interested in philosophy. It does a decent job of defining a number of terms that come up in many philosophical discussions -- especially discussion of philosophical history. From a priori and ding an sich to reductio ad absurdem and utilitarianism, this book explains many of the tools and ideas of philosophy in light-hearted and easy-to-understand way. And there's even a handy glossary!
February 25, 2020
Last time I had to deal with phylosophy was during my first year of university. The only thing I remember the professor saying was that when we reach our fourth year we will forget everything on the matter. And he was right.
So when my friend gave me the book, I thought this will help to sort things out for me on phylosophy after around 13 years, because this book seemed like "for dummies" series. And here I was wrong. This book is written for people who at least know the basics, and my feeling was that for them it would be kind of boring. It gives little pieces of information and you don't see the whole picture.
So, 1 star for phylosophic part and 5 points for jokes. They were hilarious!
So when my friend gave me the book, I thought this will help to sort things out for me on phylosophy after around 13 years, because this book seemed like "for dummies" series. And here I was wrong. This book is written for people who at least know the basics, and my feeling was that for them it would be kind of boring. It gives little pieces of information and you don't see the whole picture.
So, 1 star for phylosophic part and 5 points for jokes. They were hilarious!
April 25, 2017
It doesn't take much to make me laugh. I will literally laugh at just about anything...but I only laughed out loud ONCE while reading this book. That is how un-funny it was. The jokes are either old and well-worn or so vulgar I almost didn't finish. It fails in the comedy department.
But! This is a book about philosophy, right? Eh, even there I was disappointed. This is a very brief look at different philosophical branches. If you've taken a Gen Ed philosophy course, this will be old hat. I'd give it two stars for the philosophy portion and negative two for the jokes.
At least it was a quick read.
But! This is a book about philosophy, right? Eh, even there I was disappointed. This is a very brief look at different philosophical branches. If you've taken a Gen Ed philosophy course, this will be old hat. I'd give it two stars for the philosophy portion and negative two for the jokes.
At least it was a quick read.
August 21, 2007
I was neither stunned nor utterly disappointed by this one. It's essentially a book full of some pretty awful jokes (lots of groaners in this one, folks) that will resonate most with those with a background in philosophy. It definitely will not teach the newbie/uninitiated enough about the various philosophical disciplines and schools to be able to use that knowledge in any intelligent manner in a conversation at the local bar or philosophy meet up. Nevertheless, this was a fairly quick, light-hearted read.
October 22, 2024
O carte foarte simpatica!
Nu va așteptați să învățați filosofie din ea, 90% sunt glume, dar pe teme filosofice. Este, mai degrabă, o carte relaxanta, care stârnește zâmbete și râsete.
Are și un format bun, plăcut.
Nu va așteptați să învățați filosofie din ea, 90% sunt glume, dar pe teme filosofice. Este, mai degrabă, o carte relaxanta, care stârnește zâmbete și râsete.
Are și un format bun, plăcut.
December 11, 2020
“It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but everything that happens happens for no real reason.�
This is a good primer for Philosophy. For philosophy to work, like jokes, one needs to get it. And that's where the book works.
Toward the end of the book is a philosopy standup comedy material - for you to get the punchline of each joke - you need to know the philosophers and their philosophy. Not the kind of test you would want to encounter for grades.
The jokes used to explain the philosophies - many old ones still manage to bring a smile. Some are quote worthy. The authors have done a good job in simplifying concepts like meta philosophy, existentialism, ethics etc. Which in a way is the book's undoing.
A quick fun read - if nothing, you can read it for the jokes.
This is a good primer for Philosophy. For philosophy to work, like jokes, one needs to get it. And that's where the book works.
Toward the end of the book is a philosopy standup comedy material - for you to get the punchline of each joke - you need to know the philosophers and their philosophy. Not the kind of test you would want to encounter for grades.
The jokes used to explain the philosophies - many old ones still manage to bring a smile. Some are quote worthy. The authors have done a good job in simplifying concepts like meta philosophy, existentialism, ethics etc. Which in a way is the book's undoing.
A quick fun read - if nothing, you can read it for the jokes.
February 16, 2021
I've often struggled with reviewing "unconventional" books like this one. I mean uncoventional in the sense that it is not intended as "serious prose" and it is not fiction either. But if you are the type of reader to be persuaded by the cheeky proposition of philosophy explained through jokes, by all means read it. The authors are extremely successful in their intent.
September 7, 2021
“Immanuel Kant was a real pissant …� - Monty Python
Until reading this book, my entire knowledge of philosophers came from the Monty Python “Philosophers� Song�. I have never been interested in philosophy, but felt that perhaps I ought to know a little � and this book seemed like the perfect introduction: lots of humour and little effort required.
I really enjoyed reading the book. I think I understood most of the concepts mentioned and how each of the jokes illuminated the given philosophy. I have finished the book, can remember the jokes, but still have almost no idea of which philosopher had which philosophy, or why. This is not a fault of the book � rather my innate ability to immediately purge my mind of any philosophical thought processes (except the ones directly relating to mathematics). I am destined to remain ignorant.
One rather pedantry irritation I have with the book, is its failure to correctly quote most German phrases. German nouns are always capitalised. It is “das Ding an sich� � not “das ding�, and “Einfühlung�. The one time it was correctly done, was with “Übermensch� Nietzsche’s Superman) � what does that say?
But, apart from that, I loved the book � so many laugh-out-loud moments, and my husband was heartily sick of me reading out nearly every joke.
One of my favouites � to illustrate relativity:
“We may attribute relativity to something that is absolute. The lookout on a battleship spies a light ahead off the starboard bow. The captain tells him to signal the other vessel, “Advise you change course twenty degrees immediately!� The answer comes back, “Advise you change course twenty degrees immediately!� The captain is furious. He signals, “I am a captain. We are on a collision course. Alter your course twenty degrees now!� The answer comes back, “I am a seaman second class, and I strongly urge you to alter your course twenty degrees.� Now the captain is beside himself with rage. He signals, “I am a battleship!� The answer comes back, “I am a lighthouse.�
I recommend this book for its humour and light approach to a very weighty subject � but don’t expect to emerge being able to pass Philosophy 101.
October 17, 2016
Cool book to read but you should have prior knowledge about the concepts to enjoy the book. It is not an educational book IMO.
July 24, 2021
Pleasant enough. Many jokes were a bit cliche, but then again, they weren't the point. Thinking about why certain jokes fit with a certain philosophy was fun :)
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