Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy: The Footprints of a Gigantic Mind

(Paperback)

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This entertaining collection of essays deserves to exist because Sherlock Holmes sees things others dont. He sees the world in a different way, and by so doing, allows us to see that same world and human behavior in different ways as well. Oh, sure, there have been countless detectives who have followed in his footsteps and who seem to rival his abilities. Just turn on the TV or browse the local bookshop and youll find idiosyncratic super sleuths using forensics and reasoning to solve a whole host of crimes and misdeeds.
And yet no one rivals our dear, dear Holmes. Why does Sherlock reign, even more than a century later, as king Can this mystery be solved Unable to reach either Holmes or Watson (or Doyle for that matter, though weve tried every medium we can think of), weve been forced to gather our own team of investigators to practice their powers of observation and perception, to apply their own reasoning and methodologies to the task at hand. The results, I fear, have led us to a number of cases that must be solved first.
Is Holmes simply eccentric or a sociopath s he human, a dog or something from the holodeck Is he as dangerous on the page as he is in person Wait does he even exist For that matter, do you (I fear several investigators have been forced to take a much needed holiday after wrestling with that one.)
What is the source of his faculty of observation and facility for deduction Systematic training as Watson surmises Genetic Or is he just really lucky
And is this whole logic thing compatible with emotions Are Holmes and Watson good friends or soul mates Just what is the nature of friendship Do they complete each other or just get on each others nerves And why all the secrecy Disguises Deceptions
The plot thickens. What is the essence of consciousness Is the observable world subject to our intentions Why does Holmes debunk mysticism when Doyle so readily embraces it Why is Holmes our favorite drug user
Our notebooks are filled with clues and, dare I say, answers. Is there more than one way to define the concept, justice Is hope necessary in the world Is boredom Play Can any thing really be understood Objectively
And just what is the last unresolved mystery involving Sherlock Holmes The game that's afoot isn't just the thing being pursued but the fun to be had as well.

Author Bio

Professor Josef Steiff is Associate Chair of the Film & Video Department at Columbia College, Chicago. He is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Independent Filmmaking and co-editor of Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy, Anime and Philosophy, and Manga and Philosophy. He lives in Chicago.