Downton Abbey and Philosophy
Thinking in That Manor
In Downton Abbey and Philosophy, twenty-two professional thinkers uncover the deeper significance of this hugely popular TV saga. Millions of viewers throughout the world have been enthralled by this enactment of a vanished world of decorum and propriety, because it presents us with emotional and interpersonal problems that remain urgent for people in the twenty-first century.
Why do we attach such importance to our memories and to particular places? What do war and epidemics tell us about life in peacetime and in good health? Is it healthy or harmful for people to feel that they know their place? What does Downton Abbey teach us about the changes in women’s roles since 1912? Do good manners always agree with good morals? How can everybody know what no one will talk about? What’s the justification for a class of people who pride themselves on not having a job? Should we sometimes just accept the reality of social barriers to love, and abandon the pursuit? What happens when community reinforces oppression?
All of these and many other issues are discussed through a detailed examination of the actual characters and situations in Downton Abbey.
Adam Barkman is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Redeemer University College, Ontario. His published books include C.S. Lewis and Philosophy as a Way of Life (2009); The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott (co-edited with Ashley Barkman and Nancy Kang, 2013); and Manga and Philosophy (co-edited with Joseph Steiff, 2010). He lives in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.
Robert Arp holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy. He is the author of Scenario Visualization (2008) and co-author of three books including What's Good on TV (2011) and Philosophy DeMYSTifieD
(2001). He is the editor of 1001 Ideas that Changed the Way We Think (2013) and co-editor of at least a dozen other books, including Batman and Philosophy (2008), South Park and Philosophy: You Know I Learned Something Today (2006), and Breaking Bad and Philosophy (2012). He lives in Overland Park, KS.
