The Philosophy of Sherlock Holmes

The Philosophy of Popular Culture

by Philip Tallon (Contributor), David Baggett (Editor), David Rozema (Contributor)

Arguably the most famous and recognized detective in history, Sherlock Holmes is considered by many to be the first pop icon of the modern age. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective has stood as a unique figure for more than a century with his reliance on logical rigor, his analytic precision, and his disregard of social mores. A true classic, the Sherlock Holmes character continues to entertain twenty-first-century audiences on the page, stage, and screen. In The Philosophy of Sherlock Holmes, a team of leading scholars use the beloved character as a window into the quandaries of existence, from questions of reality to the search for knowledge. The essays explore the sleuth's role in revealing some of the world's most fundamental philosophical issues, discussing subjects such as the nature of deception, the lessons enemies can teach us, Holmes's own potential for criminality, and the detective's unique but effective style of inductive reasoning. Emphasizing the philosophical debates raised by generations of devoted fans, this intriguing volume will be of interest to philosophers and Holmes enthusiasts alike.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

214 pages, Hardcover

First published August 21, 2012

Reviews

[Eirin Stiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book for those who want to explore more about Sherlock Holmes. Many themes are commonly studied in book clubs, but analysing them from a philosophic perspective is interesting.

[Reyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty sure this is my favorite of the Pop Culture and Philosophy style books that I have read. The essays were all well written, the topics reasonably varied (helped along by the depth of source material), and suffused with love of the character and world that Conan Doyle created. If you haven't read Sherlock Holmes stories in some time, reading this will make you want to go back to see more than just what clues you missed the last time around.