I think an important distinction is between films that explore
philosophical themes and those that illustrate them. In some Simpson
episodes you can almost hear the writers thinking back to their
philosophclasses and themes get illustrated but not explored in depth. I
think that Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeaners goes in that direction
in its thinness, as Allen looks back to the philosophy classes he took
at NYU. I find Scorsese, who I expect didn't pay all that much attention
to non-film classes at NYU, to be much more philosophically interesting,
especially in his early films, because he's more thinking through
concrete problems -- individualism vs. communalism, for example -- using
characters, sounds, and images rather than illustrating a philosophical
point. Bresson also in a more philosophically sophisticated way. The
distinction has something to do with the distinction between thin and
thick ethical thought, with film and literature being more comfortable
with the sort of thickness, often narrative thickness, demanded by, say,
the Aristotelian tradition.
There are also films that simply take off from philosophical ideas.
Beckett's Film is an obvious example given that he explicitly states
that he uses Berkeley's "to see is to be perceived" is simply a premise
and that he does not mean to commit himself to the proposition. If you
extend philosophy to set theory Hollis Frampton's Zorns Lemma is a great
example (and a great film).
j
Andy Connolly wrote:
> <html><div style='background-color:'><DIV class=RTE>
> <P><BR>Hi,</P>
> <P>I was just wondering if anyone could help me out. I'm currently writing my masters which is an exploration of several key philosophical themes through television and motion picture. Most of the stuff ive come across just uses motion pictures and television shows as allergories for philosophy, which is a part of my project, but i'd also like to explore how useful they are e.g. how well do they portray the philosophy, problems with them as thought experiements, etc. I can use any film or tv show but im investigating the following philosophical discussions:</P>
> <P>1) mind and body</P>
> <P>2) identity</P>
> <P>3) reality</P>
> <P>4) free will</P>
> <P>5) moral responsibility</P>
> <P>If anyone could point me to anything or suggest anything i would GREATLY appreciate it! If anyone is particularly helpful i will consider naming a child after them!!!!</P>
> <P>Thanks</P>
> <P>Andy <BR></P>
> <DIV></DIV><FONT color=#000000></DIV>
> <DIV></DIV></FONT></div></html>
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