Black Mirror and Philosophy – Dark Reflections: The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series

A philosophical look at the twisted, high-tech near-future of sci-fi anthology series Black Mirror, offering a glimpse at the darkest reflections of the human condition Black Mirror--the Netflix series that has shown us a dark, cracked reflection of our own society and the possible dangers of living in a technology-driven world--provides rich terrain for philosophical exploration. In confronting the darkest, most frightful speculative technologies, Black Mirror seems to offer warning about the future, yet always reminds us that these possible futures are not so distant at all. These are horror that lie over the horizon . . . but only just barely. But Black Mirror is not just prophetic. It's deeply philosophical in its analysis of the human condition and its critique of society. In Black Mirror and Philosophy, a group of philosophers working across philosophical subfields invite you to peer into the void to see what happens when technology forces you to ask the questions you don't want to ask and to confront your inner monsters and deepest fears . . . How should we deal with death? Would you bring back your deceased love one? How much does "the system" control us, and is it possible to resist? Should we avail ourselves of advancing technologies like The Grain and real-world blocking? Is online shaming a force for good or evil? How dangerous will robots be? Could Heaven really be a place on Earth one day? What role should disrespect play in politics? How far should criminal punishment go? Should we trust technology to choose our mates? Is vigilante justice of vengeance justified? Would a digital "cookie" be a person?