That Philosophy Website

Book review: Plato and a Platypus walk into a bar... Understanding philosophy through jokes (2007)

'Inspired by Pascal's Pensées, a little old lady goes to the bank with a satchel filled with $100,000 and asks to open an account. The cautious banker asks where she got the money from. "Gambling," she says. "I'm very good at gambling." Intrigued the banker asks, "What sort of bets do you make?" "Oh all sorts," she says. "For example, I will bet you $25,000 right now that by tomorrow noon you will have a butterfly tattoo on your right buttock." "Well, I would love to take that bet," says the banker, "but it wouldn't be right for me to take your money for such an absurd wager." "Let me put it to you this way," says the woman. "If you don't bet me, I'll have to find another bank for my money." "Now, now, don't be hasty," says the banker. "I'll take your bet." The woman returns the next day at noon with her lawyer as a witness. The banker turns around, drops his trousers, and invites the two to observe that he has won the bet. "Okay," says the woman, "but could you bend over a little just to make sure." The banker obliges and the woman concedes, counting out $25,000 in cash from her satchel. The lawyer meanwhile is sitting with his head in his hands. "What's wrong with him?" asks the banker. "Aw he's just a sore loser," she says. "I bet him $100,000 that by noon today, you'd moon us in your office."

Although this little book took me only a few hours to read, I loved every word of it. Not only is it very witty, but it is an insightful, intelligent and very informed piece of literature. Okay, so some jokes are corny and no prizes are going to be won for skipping through the major themes in philosophy in 200 pages, but maybe they will be for being able to express in a down-to-earth, clear and succinct manner many complex and abstract philosophical ideas. I mean, for many years now I have struggled to get to grips with anything of Hegel's philosophy, yet these guys provided me with an understanding of what he was basically on about in less two pages - which also included the telling of a joke and a nod to the Bette Midler film, 'From a distance':

'Consider Bette Midler's golden oldie "From a Distance," in which the Divine Miss M imagines looking at the world from on high and finds the whole deal harmonious and groovy. That's the distance that Hegel is looking from.'

Aside from clearing up rather muddled views of Hegel (and also Kierkegaard while we're at it), this book gives a tour de force of the major themes in philosophy in the following areas:

The book also includes a very useful (and once again clearly explained) glossary, as well as a witty overview of the 'Great moments in philosophy'.

'[In] 1754 Immanuel Kant has a direct encounter with a ding an sich - says he "can't talk about it".'

Although this is definitely not a philosophical textbook, it is a valuable addition to any student of philosophy's library; especially those who are struggling to get to grips with some of the more abstract and theoretical topics (Kant's Critique (yawn) of Pure Reason anyone?). Probably its greatest asset though is as a guide to key subject areas in philosophy, which might be helpful for those struggling to know what to study. Oh, and it is also (finally) a book which might make some people realise that studying philosophy can (sometimes) be fun.

'Keep in mind these deep thoughts on relativity the next time you send out for Chinese food - or as the Chinese call it, food.'