What do you think?
Rate this book
True Detective and Philosophy: A Deeper Kind of Darkness
Investigating the trail of philosophical leads in HBO’s chilling True Detective series, an elite team of philosophers examine far-reaching riddles including human pessimism, Rust’s anti-natalism, the problem of evil, and the ‘flat circle’.
The first book dedicated to exploring the far-reaching philosophical questions behind the darkly complex and Emmy-nominated HBO True Detective series Explores in a fun but insightful way the rich philosophical and existential experiences that arise from this gripping show Gives new perspectives on the characters in the series, its storylines, and its themes by investigating core questions such Why Life Rather Than Death? Cosmic Horror and Hopeful Pessimism, the Illusion of Self, Noir, Tragedy, Philosopher-Detectives, and much, much more Draws together an elite team of philosophers to shine new light on why this genre-expanding show has inspired such a fervently questioning fan-base
The first book dedicated to exploring the far-reaching philosophical questions behind the darkly complex and Emmy-nominated HBO True Detective series Explores in a fun but insightful way the rich philosophical and existential experiences that arise from this gripping show Gives new perspectives on the characters in the series, its storylines, and its themes by investigating core questions such Why Life Rather Than Death? Cosmic Horror and Hopeful Pessimism, the Illusion of Self, Noir, Tragedy, Philosopher-Detectives, and much, much more Draws together an elite team of philosophers to shine new light on why this genre-expanding show has inspired such a fervently questioning fan-base
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2017
35 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 10, 2024
لماذا يعارض شوبنهاور فكرة الانتحار!!؟
.
.
لا يعارض شوبنهاور الانتحار من باب التفاؤل الفلسفي: فهو لا يعتقد أن هذا هو أفضل العوالم الممكنة، كما يعتقد غوتفريد لايبنتز . كما أنه لا يعتقد أن العالم يجب أن يتحسن بسبب وجود بنية عقلانية ضرورية، كما يعتقد جورج فيلهلم فريدريش هيغل. ولا أن العالم هو قضية إلهية تبرر نفسها، كما يقول باروخ سبينوزا. كما أنه لا يرى في الحياة هديةً تستحق الامتنان.
إن شوبنهاور مقتنع بأن العالم كان وسيظل دائمًا مليئًا بالمعاناة التي لا يمكن تعويضها، لأن الطبيعة تنطوي على صراع ضروس من أجل الوجود وليست "مملكة مسالمة" للكائنات التي تعيش في وئام. وهو مقتنع بأن الكثير من هذه المعاناة ستكون بلا تعويض في هذه الحياة، إذ يبدو أن مصادر المعاناة تفوق مصادر السعادة والطمأنينة.
قد يكون من المفاجئ إذن أن يعتقد شوبنهاور أن الانتحار "عمل أحمق وساذج". لأن طبيعة إرادة الحياة هي في نهاية المطاف كفاح أعمى لا معنى له ومعاناة مستمرة دون وجود غاية معينة. لكن سبب رفض شوبنهاور للانتحار هو أن الانتحار لا ينفي إرادة الحياة، بل يؤكدها، فالشخص الذي سيموت بالانتحار يرغب في الحياة؛ كل ما في الأمر هو أنه غير راضٍ عن شروط حياته الخاصة. وفي هذا المنطق يعتبر الانتحار حماقة لأنه يمنع الإنسان من الوصول إلى أعلى درجات الحكمة والسلام الداخلي الحقيقي الذي يأتي من التخلي الفعلي عن إرادة الحياة. وهكذا، يكتب شوبنهاور، الانتحار هو "فعل الإرادة" الذي من خلاله "سوف يقوم الفرد بإلغاء الجسد ... قبل أن تتمكن المعاناة من تحطيمه". وهو بذلك يشبه الشخص الانتحاري بالشخص المريض الذي "بدأ يخضع لعملية جراحية مؤلمة يمكن أن تشفيه تمامًا، ولا يسمح بإكمالها ويفضل البقاء مريضًا".
William Irwin
True Detective And Philosophy
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
.
.
لا يعارض شوبنهاور الانتحار من باب التفاؤل الفلسفي: فهو لا يعتقد أن هذا هو أفضل العوالم الممكنة، كما يعتقد غوتفريد لايبنتز . كما أنه لا يعتقد أن العالم يجب أن يتحسن بسبب وجود بنية عقلانية ضرورية، كما يعتقد جورج فيلهلم فريدريش هيغل. ولا أن العالم هو قضية إلهية تبرر نفسها، كما يقول باروخ سبينوزا. كما أنه لا يرى في الحياة هديةً تستحق الامتنان.
إن شوبنهاور مقتنع بأن العالم كان وسيظل دائمًا مليئًا بالمعاناة التي لا يمكن تعويضها، لأن الطبيعة تنطوي على صراع ضروس من أجل الوجود وليست "مملكة مسالمة" للكائنات التي تعيش في وئام. وهو مقتنع بأن الكثير من هذه المعاناة ستكون بلا تعويض في هذه الحياة، إذ يبدو أن مصادر المعاناة تفوق مصادر السعادة والطمأنينة.
قد يكون من المفاجئ إذن أن يعتقد شوبنهاور أن الانتحار "عمل أحمق وساذج". لأن طبيعة إرادة الحياة هي في نهاية المطاف كفاح أعمى لا معنى له ومعاناة مستمرة دون وجود غاية معينة. لكن سبب رفض شوبنهاور للانتحار هو أن الانتحار لا ينفي إرادة الحياة، بل يؤكدها، فالشخص الذي سيموت بالانتحار يرغب في الحياة؛ كل ما في الأمر هو أنه غير راضٍ عن شروط حياته الخاصة. وفي هذا المنطق يعتبر الانتحار حماقة لأنه يمنع الإنسان من الوصول إلى أعلى درجات الحكمة والسلام الداخلي الحقيقي الذي يأتي من التخلي الفعلي عن إرادة الحياة. وهكذا، يكتب شوبنهاور، الانتحار هو "فعل الإرادة" الذي من خلاله "سوف يقوم الفرد بإلغاء الجسد ... قبل أن تتمكن المعاناة من تحطيمه". وهو بذلك يشبه الشخص الانتحاري بالشخص المريض الذي "بدأ يخضع لعملية جراحية مؤلمة يمكن أن تشفيه تمامًا، ولا يسمح بإكمالها ويفضل البقاء مريضًا".
William Irwin
True Detective And Philosophy
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
February 15, 2019
“It's not the threat of being taken by the Green Man to be sacrificed to the Yellow King that should scare us when we watch and imagine the world of True Detective. What's truly scary is living in a world where such things exist and in which our very sense of self is permeated with that darkness.”
This book serves as an excellent companion piece for those obsessed by the first season of TRUE DETECTIVE enough to watch all the extras on the DVDs and conduct internet searches to learn more about the key characters and what makes them tick and self-destruct. Rust’s dialogue borrows heavily from Ligotti’s THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE HUMAN RACE and other sources. This book dissects the words and actions of both Rust and Marty to analyze their character arcs, actions, and states of mind.
While the book includes some analysis of the characters and story lines of season two, the main focus is on season one, and primarily Rust’s character. The subject matter also delves into noir, cosmic horror, mythology, and what it means to be a true detective. There’s a fair amount of repetition in that many of the same snippets of dialogue are examined again and again by different essayists.
I really enjoyed this deep dive into the series, but anyone who isn’t a hard core fan may find the book a slog and the repetition annoying. But, the different perspectives may be an Easter egg for those who are haunted by the characters and events of season 1. For example, dissection of Rust’s character into Taxman, Belligerent, and Patient, as is done in one essay, helps shed light on his story arc. I highlighted the heck out of this book, finding nuggets galore that fascinated me. I love the whole idea of this series that examines popular culture through the lens of philosophy as well as the one that does the same with psychology.
This book serves as an excellent companion piece for those obsessed by the first season of TRUE DETECTIVE enough to watch all the extras on the DVDs and conduct internet searches to learn more about the key characters and what makes them tick and self-destruct. Rust’s dialogue borrows heavily from Ligotti’s THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE HUMAN RACE and other sources. This book dissects the words and actions of both Rust and Marty to analyze their character arcs, actions, and states of mind.
While the book includes some analysis of the characters and story lines of season two, the main focus is on season one, and primarily Rust’s character. The subject matter also delves into noir, cosmic horror, mythology, and what it means to be a true detective. There’s a fair amount of repetition in that many of the same snippets of dialogue are examined again and again by different essayists.
I really enjoyed this deep dive into the series, but anyone who isn’t a hard core fan may find the book a slog and the repetition annoying. But, the different perspectives may be an Easter egg for those who are haunted by the characters and events of season 1. For example, dissection of Rust’s character into Taxman, Belligerent, and Patient, as is done in one essay, helps shed light on his story arc. I highlighted the heck out of this book, finding nuggets galore that fascinated me. I love the whole idea of this series that examines popular culture through the lens of philosophy as well as the one that does the same with psychology.
January 17, 2026
This collection of articles is perfect philosophy porn for True Detective fans. Heavy reading materials, though.
May 24, 2019
Starts out interesting and informative, but quickly becomes repetitive with it's themes and ideas.
June 2, 2021
There are some really bad essays in here, but some good ones too (mostly essay 13-18)
August 21, 2023
An anthology not clear at the outset. I would like the author of 'The Tragedy of True Detective Season Two: Living Our “Least Favorite Lives” Alison Horbury' to familiarise herself with Bracha Ettinger. Providing a blaze Freudian analysis of Bezzerides was gringeworthy at best. Freud is victorian and as anachronistic as her exposition and character analysis. That's right all these kick ass women have 'penis envy'!
I expected to see Wegner on the talk of self and will.
You would think that readers who pick up a philosophy book don't need an introduction to Lacan, while I'm no expert I'm familiar with the name.
I expected to see Wegner on the talk of self and will.
You would think that readers who pick up a philosophy book don't need an introduction to Lacan, while I'm no expert I'm familiar with the name.
February 20, 2018
did not finish.
You know how in logic, argumentation, and rhetoric classes you're supposed to learn about having a very clearly formed thesis, and then you premises and supporting facts to build toward and bolster that thesis?
this felt like maybe thoughtful philosophers rushing(to print) and dumbing down their work for an armchair audience. I was hoping for insight into the world of functional existential nihilism, but instead, i got a jumbled mess. meh.
You know how in logic, argumentation, and rhetoric classes you're supposed to learn about having a very clearly formed thesis, and then you premises and supporting facts to build toward and bolster that thesis?
this felt like maybe thoughtful philosophers rushing(to print) and dumbing down their work for an armchair audience. I was hoping for insight into the world of functional existential nihilism, but instead, i got a jumbled mess. meh.
November 7, 2024
The most compelling philosophical essays I’ve read to date. Does an exceptional job of dissecting pessimism, the illusion of ego, and eternal recurrence.
“The engine of the detective’s investigation is, in a sense, brute action … The methods of the philosopher and the methods of the detective both serve the aim of self-examination. The city and its citizens are made to look at themselves as they are.”
(—Chuck Ward, “The Noir Detective and the City,” pg. 165.)
“The engine of the detective’s investigation is, in a sense, brute action … The methods of the philosopher and the methods of the detective both serve the aim of self-examination. The city and its citizens are made to look at themselves as they are.”
(—Chuck Ward, “The Noir Detective and the City,” pg. 165.)
May 19, 2022
Don’t know how much someone who isn’t a fan of the series would get from this but luckily I am. After repeated viewings of the series I doubted there was anything left to uncover but this book added a whole new dynamic. Very engaging, if only other intro to philosophy books followed the same path
April 29, 2023
sincerely terrible, i haven't given a one star in years. i kept reading because all the essays were from different people and i was like, wow, they have to have a good one or two. don't repeat my mistakes. this is screenrant/cbr.com level writing but you have to pay for it.
actual scam
actual scam
September 30, 2019
We get the world we deserve
February 16, 2023
Some good individual chapters but far too many chapters are too similar and cover the same topics.
December 24, 2024
A valuable complement to the series. A textual commentary on one of the most cinematic sketches of philosophy ever.
December 11, 2024
Wasn’t the read I was expecting, however it did surprise me in a lot of ways, unfortunately a LOT of references and words went right over my head, but for the parts I did understand I fully enjoyed.
Not for every True Detective fan, but if you can stick with it, you’ll find your moments.
Not for every True Detective fan, but if you can stick with it, you’ll find your moments.
June 1, 2020
Time is a flat circle indeed, more that strong philosophical underpinning for Season One, buttressing impressive performances
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews