Book Review(s): Harry Potter and Philosophy

Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts ed. David Baggett and Shawn E. Klein


Just like Harry Potter: Critical Essays, this book is another anthology. The difference is that this book is focused primarily on philosophical ideas and topics.


Baggett organizes his book by the school houses and each house gets four chapters of their own: 
     1. Gryffindor: Characters of Harry's World
     2. Hufflepuff: Morality in Rowling's Universe
     3. Slytherin: Knockturn Alley and the Dark Arts
     4. Ravenclaw: Many-Flavored Topics in Metaphysics 

If I had to choose my favorite essays, I would have to say that they are: 

Diana Mertx Hsieh's "Dursley Duplicity: The Morality and Psychology of Self-Deception"

I liked it because it allows the reader to gain some sort of depth and understanding of the Dursley family and why they are the way they are.
I also think there are a lot of examples that could be applied to the real world. That's always nice. Subtly, I really think Hsieh is asking the readers to consider how they are like the Dursleys and if they need to make any changes.


Harald Thorsrud's "Voldemort's Agents, Malfoy's Cronies, and Hagrid's Chums: Friendship in Harry Potter"

I just enjoyed exploring the different kind of friendships Rowling introduces because not all friendships look and are the same. 


Steven W. Patterson's "Is Ambition a Virtue? Why Slytherin Belongs at Hogwarts"

FINALLY!! SOMEONE DOESN'T THINK SLYTHERINS ARE PURE EVIL AND CAN'T BE SAVED!!!!!
Sorry. I hate that. Ambition can be a virtue. Sure, it can be twisted, but so can any other virtue. It's high time that someone tries to rescue Slytherin from the hatred and the dungeons where McGonagall sends them in Deathly Hallows Part 2. 


Jason T. Eberl's "Why Voldemort Won't Just Die Already: What Wizards can Teach Us about Personal Identity"

I like this one because identity is such an interesting thing to explore. I'm constantly thinking about and trying to understand my own identity. Plus, one of my last classes at Grad School was all about identity: creating and defining it. 
I love it. 



The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy: Hogwarts for Muggles ed. Gregory Bassham

This book is the same structure and topic as the book featured above. The main difference is that this one is longer and not organized around school houses, but it still has five categories.

These are the articles I loved most.

Scott Sehon's "The Soul in Harry Potter"

Any discussion of the soul is fascinating to me, especially when it is so hard to define, understand, and find. There are so many different opinions of what the soul looks like and where it is housed in the body. It was beyond interesting. 
I loved it.


Andrew P. Mills's "Patriotism, House Loyalty, and the Obligations of Belonging"

This essay was interesting to read. I had a problem with him attacking Hermione's loyalty over everyone else's, but that's whatever. Hermione is one of my favorite characters and the one I see most of myself in, so yeah. Of course that annoyed me.
Aside from that, the article was engaging. I love that it explored every side of patriotism there is. It was wonderful.


Tamar Scabo Gendler's "Is Dumbledore Gay? Who's to Say?"

This is always a touchy subject with Potter-fans. Some believe or accept it as Rowling's vision. Others argue that because the announcement was made after Deathly Hallows was published, she can no longer say things about the story, such as Dumbledore being gay.
Personally, I don't care. It doesn't change his character or the plot of the story. So why should we care at all?
You know?


John Granger and Gregory Bassham's "Just in Your Head? J.K. Rowling on Separating Reality from Illusions" 

I love it -- pure and simple. What's real? What isn't? Can anything become real if you believe it to be true?
Fascinating questions to ponder over. It's wonderful.


Jonathan L. Walls and Jerry L. Walls's "Beyond Godric's Hollow: Life after Death and the Search for Meaning"

Godric's Hollow is such a essential part of Deathly Hallows, not just plot wise, but idea wise also. In that scene, Harry gets to see his parents gravestone and the remains of his old house, but he also starts questioning death -- essential for the scene in the forest with Voldemort.
I love it.


I really enjoyed these books. They are interesting and promote all these ideas I hadn't thought of. It's amazing. It probably helps that I've studied all these philosophers before, but I believe anyone can love these books.