Avatar and Philosophy

James Cameron s critically acclaimed movie Avatar was nominated for nine Academy Awards and received countless accolades for its breath-taking visuals and use of 3D technology. But beyond its cinematic splendour, can Avatar also offer us insights into business ethics, empathy, disability, and the relationship between mind and body? Can getting to know the Na vi, an alien species, enlarge our vision and help us to see both our world and ourselves in new ways? Avatar and Philosophy is a revealing journey through the world of Pandora and the huge range of philosophical themes raised by James Cameron s groundbreaking film Explores philosophical issues such as religion, morality, aesthetics, empathy, identity, the relationship of mind and body, environmental and business ethics, technology, and just war theory Examines a wide range of topics from the blockbuster movie, including attitudes toward nature, our responsibilities to nonhuman species, colonialism, disability, and communitarian ethics Written by an esteemed group of philosophers who are avid fans of Avatar themselves Explains philosophical concepts in an enjoyable and accessible manner that will appeal to all levels of readers With a new trilogy of sequels now announced, this is the ideal entry point for understanding the world of Pandora for fans and newcomers alike

James Cameron's critically acclaimed movie Avatarwas nominated for nine Academy Awards and received countlessaccolades for its breath-taking visuals and use of 3D technology.But beyond its cinematic splendour, can Avatar also offer usinsights into business ethics, empathy, disability, and therelationship between mind and body? Can getting to know theNa'vi, an alien species, enlarge our vision and help us to"see" both our world and ourselves in new ways?Avatar and Philosophy is a revealing journey through theworld of Pandora and the huge range of philosophical themesraised by James Cameron's groundbreaking film* Explores philosophical issues such as religion, moralityaesthetics, empathy, identity, the relationship of mind and bodyenvironmental and business ethics, technology, and just wartheory* Examines a wide range of topics from the blockbuster movieincluding attitudes toward nature, our responsibilities to nonhumanspecies, colonialism, disability, and communitarian ethics* Written by an esteemed group of philosophers who are avid fansof Avatar themselves* Explains philosophical concepts in an enjoyable and accessiblemanner that will appeal to all levels of readers* With a new trilogy of sequels now announced, this is the idealentry point for understanding the world of Pandora for fans andnewcomers alike

Acknowledgments: I See These People viiiIntroduction: Time to Wake Up 1George A. DunnPart I Seeing Eywa: "I'm With Her, Jake.She's Real!" 51 The Silence of Our Mother: Eywa as the Voice of Feminine CareEthics 7George A. Dunn and Nicolas Michaud2 "Eywa Will Provide": Pantheism, Christianity, andthe Value of Nature 19Jason T. Eberl3 The Tantra of Avatar 36Asra Q. NomaniPart II Seeing the Na'vi: "You Will Teach Him OurWays" 494 Learning to See the Na'vi 51Stephanie Adair5 It Doesn't Take an Avatar: How to Empathize with aBlue-Skinned Alien 62Andrew Terjesen6 "I See You" through a Glass Darkly: Avatar and theLimits of Empathy 74Massimiliano CappuccioPart III Seeing Nature: "Try to See the Forest throughHer Eyes" 877 Seeing the Na'vi Way: Respecting Life and Mind in AllOrganisms 89Kyle Burchett8 They're Not Just Goddamn Trees: Hegel's Philosophyof Nature and the Avatar of Spirit 104James Lawler9 "Everything Is Backwards Now": AvatarAnthropocentrism, and Relational Reason 115Jeremy David Bendik-KeymerPart IV Seeing Our Bodies: "They've Got GreatMuscle Tone" 12510 The Identity of Avatars and Na'vi Wisdom 127Kevin S. Decker11 "I Got This": Disability, Stigma, and JakeSully's Rejected Body 139Ryan Smock12 "See the World We Come From": Spiritual versusTechnological Transcendence in Avatar 151Dan DinelloPart V Seeing Our Political Communities: "Sky PeopleCannot See" 16513 "We Will Fight Terror with Terror": Avatar andJust War Theory 167Joseph J. Foy14 The Community and the Individual in Avatar 180Dale Murray15 Avatar and Colonialism 190Nathan EckstrandPart VI Seeing Our Ethical Responsibilities: "SometimesYour Entire Life Boils Down to One Insane Move" 20116 "All That Cheddar": Lessons in Business Ethicsfrom the RDA Corporation 203Matthew Brophy17 "We Have an Indigenous Population of Humanoids Calledthe Na'vi": Native American Philosophy in Avatar215Dennis Knepp18 I See Animals: The Na'vi and Respect for OtherCreatures 226Wayne YuenPart VII Seeing the Movie: "You Are Not Gonna BelieveWhere I Am" 23919 The Digital Cabinet of Curiosities: Avatar and thePhenomenology of 3D Worlds 241Robert Furze and Pat BreretonNotes on Contributors: Our Avatar Drivers 252Index: My Last Video Log 258