P O P U L A R C U L T U R E A N D P H I L O S O P H Y ® POPULAR CULTURE AND PHILOSOPHY® PHILOSOPHY / TV and FILM SCHILLER tephen T. Colbert, “This smart and lively crew gets it, which Ph.D., D.S.M., D.F.A., is to say, they are it-getters. They get is an inspiration to that Colbert is more than funny, and they billions of Americans. help all of us better understand that he What other man has much to teach us about the great could have won both philosophical debates of our times.” an Olympic gold — GEOFFREY BAYM, University of North STEPHEN COLBER medal and the Carolina, Greensboro Nobel Peace Prize? “Media culpa! If Stephen Colbert Sadly, until now, interviewed Plato, what would Dr. Colbert has Socrates say? This romp through the not received great philosophers and philosophical adequate perspectives helps us understand the adulation by the immortal question: How do we know intellectual elite, for stuff? No manual for wordinistas, this the simple reason that these ivy-covered book shows us how philosophy offers invertebrates have no balls and therefore useful correctives to the pitfalls of don’t get it. truthiness in American life.” — W. LANCE BENNETT, co-author of Meanwhile, Aaron Allen Schiller, under When the Press Fails: Political Power deep cover as a so-called “professor and the News Media from Iraq to of philosophy,” has assembled a crack Katrina team of professional it-getters, with more balls than Obama’s inauguration. T “Not since Socrates, has a gadfly stung They have clandestinely infiltrated the his State with so much irony. An Americaphobic cloisters of academe, AND PHILOSOPHY American treasure, Stephen Colbert with but a single fixed and indomitable is an audacious social philosopher at purpose: to manufacture and release this heart—and here are the essays to prove awesome weapon of mass destruction, it. Readers with no background in Stephen Colbert and Philosophy. When philosophy will find much truthiness in the shock and awe die down, philosophy these pages, and see a whole new side will be set on its true course: uncovering to their favorite satire.” and expounding the timeless insights of Stephen Colbert. — STEPHEN T. ASMA, author of The Gods Drink Whiskey Stephen Colbert and Philosophy is a family-friendly product, with very little Aaron Allen Schiller is a baseball fan, salacious or offensive content, in fact cyclist, longboarder, cat owner, and STEPHEN almost none. Reluctance to purchase home brewer. He has reportedly told this book may possibly be a sign of some of his associates he “teaches disloyalty to our great nation and will philosophy” at the University of C unnecessarily prolong the economic Wisconsin at Milwaukee. olbert hard times. AND PHILOSOPHY OPEN COURT: CHICAGO AND LA SALLE, ILLINOIS -FPO BAR CODE- FOR OTHER TITLES IN THE POPULAR CULTURE AND PRINTER, PLEASE STRIP IN PHILOSOPHY® SERIES, VISIT OPENCOURTBOOKS.COM ACTUAL BAR CODE HERE. I AM PHILOSOPHY (AND SO CAN YOU!) COVER DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION: SHANE ARBOGAST, WWW.SHANEARBOGAST.COM E D I T E D B Y A A R O N A L L E N S C H I L L E R Colbert and Philosophy 4/5/09 7:46 PM Page i Stephen Colbert and Philosophy Colbert and Philosophy 4/5/09 7:46 PM Page ii Popular Culture and Philosophy ® Series Editor: George A. Reisch VOLUME 1 VOLUME 18 VOLUME 31 Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book Harley-Davidson and Philosophy: Johnny Cash and Philosophy: about Everything and Nothing Full-Throttle Aristotle (2006) The Burning Ring of Truth (2008) (2000) Edited by Bernard E. Rollin, Edited by John Huss and David Carolyn M. Gray, Kerri Mommer, Werther VOLUME 2 and Cynthia Pineo The Simpsons and Philosophy: The VOLUME 32 D’oh! of Homer (2001) VOLUME 19 Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy: Monty Python and Philosophy: Darkness on the Edge of Truth VOLUME 3 Nudge Nudge, Think Think! (2006) (2008) Edited by Randall E. Auxier The Matrix and Philosophy: Edited by Gary L. Hardcastle and and Doug Anderson Welcome to the Desert of the Real George A Reisch (2002) VOLUME 33 VOLUME 20 Battlestar Galactica and VOLUME 4 Poker and Philosophy: Pocket Philosophy: Mission Accomplished Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Rockets and Philosopher Kings or Mission Frakked Up? (2008) Philosophy: Fear and Trembling (2006) Edited by Eric Bronson Edited by Josef Steiff and Tristan in Sunnydale (2003) V D. Tamplin OLUME 21 VOLUME 5 U2 and Philosophy: How to VOLUME 34 The Lord of the Rings and Decipher an Atomic Band (2006)