Jason P. Blahuta & Michel S. Beaulieu 
Final Fantasy and Philosophy 
The Ultimate Walkthrough

An unauthorized look behind one of the greatest video game
franchises of all time, Final Fantasy

The Final Fantasy universe is packed with compelling
characters and incredible storylines. In this book, you’ll take a
fascinating look at the deeper issues that Final Fantasy
forces players to think about while trying to battle their way to
the next level, such as: Does Cloud really exist (or should we
really care)? Is Kefka really insane? Are Moogles part of a
socialist conspiracy? Does the end of the game justify the
means?

As Mages, Moogles, fiends, and Kefka are mashed together with
the likes of Machiavelli, Marx, Foucault, and Kafka, you’ll delve
into crucial topics such as madness, nihilism, environmental
ethics, Shintoism, the purpose of life, and much more.

* Examines the philosophical issues behind one of the world’s
oldest and most popular video-game series

* Offers new perspectives on Final Fantasy characters and
themes

* Gives you a psychological advantage–or at least a
philosophical one–against your Final Fantasy enemies

* Allows you to apply the wisdom of centuries of philosophy to
any game in the series, including Final Fantasy XIII

Guaranteed to add a new dimension to your understanding of the
Final Fantasy universe, this book is the ultimate companion
to the ultimate video-game series.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Getting Started: The Alternative.

Instruction Booklet.

PART ONE: BASIC CONTROLS AND UNDERSTANDING YOUR
CHARACTERS.

1 The Spiky-Haired Mercenary vs. the French Narrative Theorist:
Final Fantasy VII and the Writerly Text (Benjamin
Chandler).

2 Kefka, Nietzsche, Foucault: Madness and Nihilism in Final
Fantasy VI (Kylie Prymus).

3 Judging the Art of Video Games: Hume and the Standard of Taste
(Alex Nuttall).

PART TWO: PLAYING THE GAME–BUT WHAT IF IT’S NOT A
GAME?

4 The Lifestream, Mako, and Gaia (Jay Foster).

5 Gaia and Environmental Ethics in The Spirits Within
(Jason P. Blahuta).

6 Objectification of Conscious Life Forms in Final
Fantasy (Robert Arp and Sarah Fisk).

PART THREE: ABILITIES YOU NEVER KNEW YOU HAD.

7 Final Fantasy and the Purpose of Life (Greg
Littmann).

8 The Four Warriors of Light Saved the World, but They
Don’t Deserve Our Thanks (Nicolas Michaud).

PART FOUR: SIDE QUESTS OF THE ENLIGHTENED.

9 Shinto and Alien Influences in Final Fantasy VII
(Jonah Mitropoulos).

10 Kupo for Karl and the Materialist Conception of History
(Michel S. Beaulieu).

11 Sin, Otherworldliness, and the Downside to Hope (David
Hahn).

PART FIVE: OTHER WAYS TO ENJOY THE GAME SO IT NEVER
ENDS.

12 Human, All Too Human: Cloud’s Existential Quest for
Authenticity (Christopher R. Wood).

13 Is the Fear of Stopping Justified? (Kevin
Fitzpatrick).

14 What’s in a Name? Cid, Cloud, and How Names Refer
(Andrew Russo and Jason Southworth).

CONTRIBUTORS: Party Menu.

INDEX: Game Tips.

Über den Autor

Jason P. Blahuta is an associate professor of philosophy at
Lakehead University and has contributed to Battlestar Galactica and
Philosophy and Terminator and Philosophy.

Michel S. Beaulieu is an assistant professor of history
at Lakehead University.

William Irwin is a professor of philosophy at King’s
College. He originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of
books as coeditor of the bestselling The Simpsons and Philosophy
and has overseen recent titles including Batman and Philosophy,
House and Philosophy, and Watchmen and Philosophy.