Far Cry 2: Are You Sure about Being a Hero? Alberto Oya The videogame Far Cry 2 (Ubisoft Montreal, 2008) was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and released worldwide on October 2008 for Windows-based computers and the home consoles PlayStation 3 and XBOX 360. It follows the first-person shooter formula, so its gaming experience is primarily…
In Yellowstone, There’s a Good Reason to Be Meaner than Evil Jamey Heit The world of Yellowstone is not for the faint of heart. Amidst the backdrop of nature’s grandeur, viewers encounter power plays, schemes, and betrayals as the Dutton family pushes back against forces that want their land. The family’s relationships are cutthroat and…
Competing Ethical Systems in Ghost of Tsushima by Armond Boudreaux In its depiction of medieval Japanese culture, its astonishingly beautiful landscapes and imagery, and its hyper-realistic combat, Ghost of Tsushima is ground-breaking. One remarkable thing about the game that might have gone relatively unnoticed, however, is the way in which it invites a sophisticated…
Darkest Dungeon and Ethics Making the Most of a Bad Situation James Cartlidge Darkest Dungeon is a critically acclaimed, award-winning video game developed by Red Hook Studios which, since its release in 2016, has maintained a strong cult following. It tells a story of grim, medieval Lovecraftian horror and raises deep, difficult ethical questions in…
The Ethics of Survivor “It’s Just a Game” By Justin Kitchen This spring premiered yet another season (the 40th) of the CBS show Survivor. If you’re unfamiliar with it, here’s how an average game plays out: A number of people (usually 20) from different backgrounds are ‘stranded’ in a remote location—often on an island chain…
The Good Place and Philosophy The Good Place, the Bad Place, and Other People George A. Dunn In 2016, NBC premiered The Good Place, surely one of the most unique half-hour sitcoms of all time. It’s unique not only due to its principle protagonists all being dead (except for one who’s an anthropomorphized vessel…
Interstellar and Philosophy The Ethics of Space Colonization By Lance Belluomini The highly anticipated Sci-Fi movie Interstellar opened worldwide on November 7th. I couldn’t wait to experience the movie for myself on opening day. And I did, on the largest film format there is—70mm IMAX. I wasn’t disappointed. If nothing else, Interstellar contains the…
The Ultimate Star Trek and Philosophy Edited by Kevin S. Decker and Jason T. Eberl The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series Please circulate and re-post widely . Abstracts and subsequent essays should be philosophically substantial but accessible, written to engage the intelligent lay reader. Works focusing on the five television series and twelve…
24 and Philosophy Jack Bauer and Margot Al-Harazi on “What Must Be Done” by Chandler Brett 24: Live Another Day revives the formulas that made the first seasons of the show successful, yet the writers have placed these familiar themes in new contexts, keeping the story thrilling and thought-provoking, despite some predictability. One of the…
The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series 