Taylor Swift and Philosophy: Essays from the Tortured Philosophers Department

by Catherine M. Robb (Editor), Georgina H. Mills (editor), William Irwin (series_editor)

Explore the philosophical wisdom of Taylor Swift and her music

Taylor Swift is a “Mastermind” when it comes to relationships, songwriting, and performing sold-out stadium tours. But did you know that Taylor is also a philosophical mastermind?

Taylor Swift and Philosophy is the first book to explore the philosophical topics that arise from Taylor Swift's life and music. Edited and authored by Swifties who also happen to be philosophers and scholars, this fun and engaging book is written with general readers in mind—you don't have to be a devoted fan or a specialist in philosophy to explore the themes, concepts, and questions expressed in Taylor's songs.

Is Taylor Swift a philosopher?
What can her songs tell us about ethics and society?
What is the nature of friendship?
Should you forgive someone for breaking your heart?
Presenting top-tier research and new perspectives on important contemporary issues, twenty-seven chapters discuss the philosophical contexts of Taylor's work, such as the ethics of reputational damage, the impacts of first impressions, the moral obligation to speak out against injustice, and much more.

Taylor Swift and Philosophy is a must-read for Swifties who want to deepen their appreciation and understanding of Taylor's work, as well as for philosophy students and scholars with an interest in popular culture and media studies.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Pop Culture

256 pages, Paperback

Published September 24, 2024

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really thought provoking and intriguing collection of philosophical articles, all centered around the common theme of Taylor Swift as philosopher and her music. As a Swiftie, I really enjoyed the exploration of what a philosopher is and learning about different concepts within philosophy and how that's reflected in Taylor's discography. For the most part, all eras are discussed in this collection of articles. I was a little disappointed that there was not more of The Tortured Poets' Society, given how philosophical some of the songs are on that album, but we did get a bit of it in the last article! I would say that I really understand a whole lot more about the philosophy represented in folklore now, especially the track 'mad woman'. Overall, if you're a Swift fan and interested in viewing her work through an academic lens, this is a very cool read to pick up.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of 27 essays that use Taylor Swift's music to explore a variety of philosophical topics. A lot of the essays didn't resonate with me, but as I got near the end I found a few gems I really enjoyed. They focused on topics of grief, memory, modality, transcendentalism, and mythic motifs. I particularly liked the last two topics, as they referred to literary concepts which are right up my alley (folk & fairytales, storytelling, the Romantic era of poetry, and the use of imagery). Overall, this was a fun and different way to explore the lyrics and cultural impact of Taylor Swift.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really care if Taylor Swift is a "philosopher" or not.

[Heather Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun way to learn some casual philosophy through exploration of the work of Taylor Swift - ranging through questions about memory, knowledge, grief, anger, forgiveness, among others. Definitely better for fans as her life and lyrics are referenced in detai, but it's an interesting way to see them in a new light.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book to read. I found it hard to stay focus as it seemed more like a text book than a fun read.

[Amanda Overholt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really interesting to read how culturally and impactful Taylor Swift is.

[Saranya ⋆☕︎ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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