Philosophy in Movies

[MutualDesire]

Hi guys, wondered if you could help? I'm currently a second year philosophy student, and have discussed with my tutors the idea of screening movies for the philosophy society. The idea is that some philosophical ideas are easier to discuss if we have examples [e.g. watching the matrix shows us what Descartes was talking about].

The problem is our courses are about 10 weeks long, so I'd like to screen 10 films - also some topics are easy to screen movies about; others are harder. Here is a list of possible movies I had:

The Matrix - Cartesian Scepticism
Memento - Personal Identity and Epistemology
Short Circuit - Personal Identity and Consciousness
Truman Show - Cartesian Scepticism
Being John Malkovich - Personal Identity
T2: Judgement Day - Consciousness, Free Will + Ethics
Twelve Angry Men - Proper Philosophical Discussion

My problem is that in case you can't tell - there's too much skepticism + personal identity - not enough other topics. Could you possible suggest other movies based on philosophy - especially Meta-ethics.

Cheers,

Bill

[Adam]

Movie / Philosophical issue
-----------------------------------

Schwarzeneggar's Commando / Kill now, or kill later?
Schwarzeneggar's Conan The Barbarian / Kill now, or kill later?
Schwarzeneggar's Terminator / Kill now, or kill later?
Schwarzeneggar's Predator / Kill now, or kill later?

Sorry, just having fun. Can't recall any films off the top of my head that had any deep philosophical stuff going on. Isn't that terrible?

[MutualDesire]

lol now I think about it - he never even took long deciding - and he normally went for the former :P

Cheers,
Bill

[Red2m4]

"American Beauty" ???

Deals with ethics and familial issues...

Plus it's my favorite movie of all time.

[wet1]

Doctor Detroit with Dan Akyrod(?)

Is the doing of a good samaration deed worth it?

[MutualDesire]

Oh Red2m4 - how I wish I could show American Beauty. It is my favourite movie of all time too; but I'm not entirely sure what definite questions it raises. I'm trying to find something which deals with meta-ethics; which is really tricky to think about because loads of movies deal with normative ethics.

Thank you for suggesting this - and if you can think of what questions it raises, I would very much like to put it on. Might just be a failure of insight on my part.

Cheers,
Bill

[Adam]

Not a fan of American Beauty.

The Blues Brothers, now there's a deep film!

[MutualDesire]

That's actually a damn good idea... "We're on a mission from GOD"... definite possibility ... but why aren't u a fan of AB???

[Adam]

American Beauty just didn't do anything for me. Overall it was sort of pointless. Kevin Spacey is annoying. There was just nothing in the film that appealed to me.

[Asguard]

I know this may seem a strange choice but what about swordfish?

Its where the question for my "value of life" thread came from

it talks about where the point is that the end DOSN'T justify the means

(there is alot of exstrainious stuff in it though)

[FrstKnight]

Okay for those of you who are interested there are three older movies that deal with all kinds of philisophical issues. Too many to list. Those movies are:
Dark City
eXistenZ
The Cube
if you watch those three movies you will be able to discuss the philisophical issues in those movies for years to come. Just thought I would let everyone know of those movies.

[airavata]

if you want to show movies which bring out philosophical issues, screen 'The Wall'. it's an amaaaazing film. it deals with many themes...prominent ones being isolation, inability to handle fame etc.

plus it's based on the album by PINK FLOYD...the best group ever.

[Tyler]

I don't think I've seen Mutual Desire post in some time.....
But just to let you know, I think The Matrix's most prominent philosophical idea was Plato's Cave.

[havalina]

"The Man Who Wasn't There" if you couldn't tell by the title, possesses very strong philosophical elements.
It stars Billy Bob Thorton and is directed by The Coen Brothers
The Man Who Wasn't There (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0243133)

[Weiser_Dub]

As you probably know, philosophy is in all movies, but:

Fight Club - nihilism

you know it really depends what you want to address. it'd be easier that way, since anything could be used. ever seen 'rosencrantz and guildenstern are dead?' - there's one for ya

what topics?

[theonlyguyever]

I think you should show 'Pi' -- deals with personal identity and beauty in the world around us.

[sargentlard]

How about Requiem for a dream..i don't know if it fills the critreria for what you want but a good film nonetheless. Also Bill and Ted's excellent adventure...it deals with all sort of cool time travelling and such. Not a bad suggestion is Groundhog day with Bill Murry in it...it's basically god forcing his ass to give a damn about the people around him- that could be a new field in Philosophy called "Overassertive diety influenceism" (that has been copyrighted so if you steal it i'll sue your ass indefinetly). Well i am tapped for suggestions..hope that helped :D

[Alpha]

This thread is kinda old... it's even archived, lol
I don't think it matters anymore.

[sargentlard]

Originally posted by Alpha
This thread is kinda old... it's even archived, lol
I don't think it matters anymore.


That's what i get when i am too lazy to check the date...oh well i still like the coined up new philoshpy i made up.

[%BlueSoulRobot%]

Originally posted by Weiser_Dub
As you probably know, philosophy is in all movies, but:

Fight Club - nihilism YES! :D

Are you allowed to watch documentaries too, Mutual Desire? Because then that'd be very easy.

How about "John Q"? This one should be a cinch.

Or "Artificial Intelligence", in combo with "The Bicentennial Man"?

Or "Blade Runner"? This one's another cult classic, it's what "The Matrix", "The Fifth Element", "12 Monkeys" and "Dark City" sprung from (so I've heard).

Also "the Thirteenth Floor", even though it wasn't exactly a great film.

Perhaps "Donnie Darko"? "The Dog of Flanders"? "Rabbit-proof Fence"? etc.

And to reiterate Weiser_Dub's point - doesn't every movie have some kind of philisophical "value" at its very core, no matter if it's hidden inside Keanu Reeves' gun or underneath the "Deep Blue Sea"? ;)

(p.s. Hey Adam! :) )

[Alpha]

*Ahem*
Originally posted by Alpha
This thread is kinda old... it's even archived, lol
I don't think it matters anymore.

[%BlueSoulRobot%]

*lol* right. But hey, some parts are still relevant, people can come here and look for recommendations. :D

[valentino]

I knew this thread was old when I saw Adam had posted on it...
For myself, the View Askew movies all make me think.

[havalina]

Originally posted by valentino
I knew this thread was old when I saw Adam had posted on it...
For myself, the View Askew movies all make me think.
View Askew? Is that Kevin Smith's production company?

[valentino]

Yep, it sure is. Kevin Smith ownz.

[Soulcry]

BLADE RUNNER (my favorite)
If you guys didnt watch it yet go and watch it now. This is an order and after you watched it come back for the second order :D

[%BlueSoulRobot%]

Originally posted by Soulcry
BLADE RUNNER (my favorite)
If you guys didnt watch it yet go and watch it now. This is an order and after you watched it come back for the second order :D That was on my list too. :)

[Avatar]

Kubrik films!!!

Clockwork Orange
and 2001 Space Odyssey
would be perfect I think

edit: fixed a typo

[exsto_human]

Hullo, excelent thread.

Yes, Kubriks is definately worth watching, especialy Clockwork.

I would also say, Appocalypse now - I think it's philosophical values are often overlooked even though they are so obvious.

And this goes without saying,
Solaris. I haven't seen the new version, I don't know if it's out yet . But definately check out Tarkovsky's original.
You could write a whole book of philosophical debate on it:).

[orange]

Requiem for a dream, Dead poets society, American beauty, Good will hunting and Shawshank redemption.

[one_raven]

Originally posted by Weiser_Dub
Fight Club - nihilism
And Fascism.

[Xev]

And Fascism.

Que?

*Grabbing sword and preparing to defend Chuck Palahnuik's honour*

Dr. Strangelove, Clockwork Orange and Deep Throated Sluts volume 4 are all very philosophical movies.

[PeacefulWarrior]

Waking Life

excellent film addressing a bunch of philosophical issues and ideologies

[one_raven]

Originally posted by Xev
Que?

*Grabbing sword and preparing to defend Chuck Palahnuik's honour*

Nothing to defend here.
I am not attacking his views or integrity.
I am not saying that Tyler's (or Chuck's) vision was not honorable or justified.

Don't you think that on some levels it is a commentary on Fascism?

Tyler's followers were urban soldiers sacrificing their identity and individuality for the sake of the cause.

The "soldiers" were mindless identityless unquestioning followers of Tyler.
"In Tyler we trust".

The goal was to suppress the opposition of the masses through the means of socio-economic terrorism and forced nihilistic revolution.

[ben nevis]

You must give, "The Hunchback of Notre Dam", a serious viewing. It's all about this french guy with a large fatty deposit and limited hearing. He really fancies this chick Esmarelda but she reckons he's a bit of a toad and he doesn't ring her bell. The philisophical message is clear. If your a fat bastard with a lumpy back, don't chat up humpless women.

[Tyler]

"Dr. Strangelove"

I don't know that I'd call the good doctor philosophical. Political and brilliant, yes. But I'm curious what philosophy (other than political) you saw in it?

Hm.......
A movie that hasn't been mentioned?
City of God (it's Brazillian, and brilliant)

[MShark]

"Dogma" should be on everyones list

[Xev]

Tyler:

I think it explores the concept of futility very well.

But then, so does watching the Leafs try to avoid elimination. :D

[Dr Lou Natic]

Village of the damned:)

Ok I'm not sure about philosophy as such but it sure does have cool looking alien children in it!

Actually it is kind of philosophical, but alot of movies are in one way or another.

[notme2000]

WAKING LIFE! Trust me on this, Waking Life is like an entire philosophy course in itself. It's done in this really cool animation too. Rent it NOW!

[brushyt]

"Waking life" is definitely a must watch, although the animation style can be a bit much. Also try "I Heart Huckabees".

[iceaura]

Not to put too fine a point on it, but the Philip Dick novella that Bladerunner was based on is considerably deeper, philosophically, than the movie.

And doesn't take much longer to read than the movie does to watch, counting getting in an out of the theater, etc.

And it's cheaper, total cost, probably. Free at the library.

And when you are discussing it with your fellow philosophers, you can have the examples and scenes right there indexed by page number, simultaneously with the discussion, for common reference. You can even text each other while talking, and put up Powerpoint slides with bullets on the Important Points, creating a true Multimedia Learning Environment for Philosophical Meaning Transmission.

For that matter, if reading is dull and difficult for the modern philosopher, books or posters of lithographs and photographic reproductions of paintings offer the same convenience of example, and much of the philosophical richness and density, of ordinary novels.

"The Night, Death, and the Devil" by Durer, for example, provides a great fund of philosophical issues, and can be scanned for details by eye in a few milliseconds, a considerable savings over the "select scene" video option.

Movies ? "Galaxy Quest" is very deep, philosophically. If you supply the philosophy, of course.

[nermeen]

hi guys,
I have just signed up in the forum. I have found it, while surfing the net for philosophy movies! I found your conversation about philosophy movies but its 5 years ago!!
I am a student in the 1st year philosopny in Germany. I would like to suggest to you my favorite movie! Waking Life. I find it outstanding!! anybody saw it?

[Avatar]

Welcome to Sciforums, nermeen! I'm still here after 5 years. Well, 7 actually.

My friend has given me a copy of Waking life and told that I will like it, but I haven't yet seen it.
Perhaps I should see it sooner. :)

[JoDan]

So, this is picking up on a very old series of posts, but some had previously asked what the philosophical themes in American Beauty are. Certainly there are many that can be teased out, but I have one in particular to share. It was suggested to me by a prof to examine the character of Ricky in a Nietzschean light, i.e. as an instantiation of the superman. Watch the scene in the third act in which his father beats him and ask yourself the question, "Which of the two characters has the power in this interaction?" It is this ubermensch-like quality that Kevin Spacey's character notices when he first meets Ricky. He spends the rest of the movie imitating Ricky's freedom of action.

[cosmictraveler]

To Kill A Mockingbird

Brubaker

The Traveling Executioner

[Gabe's Mom]

Gattica is a movie that I used for medical ethics.

[clusteringflux]

Huh?

Mom, what the hell are you doing on sciforums? This is so embarrassing!

/runs away in tears





P.s. Welcome