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A review by richardbakare
The Expanse and Philosophy by Jeff Nicholas, William Irwin
4.0
The Expanse as a TV show was a seminal experience for many. I first heard it described as a sprawling space opera with just the right amount of fantasy sprinkled in. For many, the show and the source material in the books represent a deep look in the mirror at humanity and all its flaws. This collection of essays goes even further on that analysis by examining the human experience across the stars and ties it to various philosophical maxims and theories.
The book starts out with a bang from the very first section; going right after the infinite expanse of the universe and our place in it. Every essay and section after that adds another layer of richness to the knowledge sponge cake. Some entries get deeply personal on a single character, while others ask broader questions about humanity’s roles and obligations to each other and the cosmos. Across all the pages, you will see a single commonality that was most meaningful for me.
The thread that binds this collection together is that though the setting is space and the challenge is galactic in scale, the conversations and analysis on The Expanse are deeply rooted in a Humanist lens. For me, that makes the book all the more intellectually and emotionally compelling. It had me pondering what it means to be human in a universe that doesn’t care if you die? Moreover, what is the role of individual identity in an expansive universe that shrinks and expands what human permanence and agency look like all at once?
Overall, this is one of the best philosophy books I have ever read and the type of reading that should be offered to students to pull more of them into the practice. The entry on patriotism and nationalism is particularly relevant for the current American dilemma. I simply could not put it down and felt the better for it with every page. Now, all we need is the tv show to cover the last two books in the series.
The book starts out with a bang from the very first section; going right after the infinite expanse of the universe and our place in it. Every essay and section after that adds another layer of richness to the knowledge sponge cake. Some entries get deeply personal on a single character, while others ask broader questions about humanity’s roles and obligations to each other and the cosmos. Across all the pages, you will see a single commonality that was most meaningful for me.
The thread that binds this collection together is that though the setting is space and the challenge is galactic in scale, the conversations and analysis on The Expanse are deeply rooted in a Humanist lens. For me, that makes the book all the more intellectually and emotionally compelling. It had me pondering what it means to be human in a universe that doesn’t care if you die? Moreover, what is the role of individual identity in an expansive universe that shrinks and expands what human permanence and agency look like all at once?
Overall, this is one of the best philosophy books I have ever read and the type of reading that should be offered to students to pull more of them into the practice. The entry on patriotism and nationalism is particularly relevant for the current American dilemma. I simply could not put it down and felt the better for it with every page. Now, all we need is the tv show to cover the last two books in the series.