Wittkower book investigates TV detective 'Monk'
Dylan Wittkower, a lecturer in philosophy at CCU, has a new book coming out in March titled Mr. Monk and Philosophy, a collection of essays about the popular TV detective. In addition to Wittkower, two other CCU faculty members also wrote chapters for the volume – Nils Rauhut and Ronald S. Green, both also of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.The book, according to the publisher, "uses philosophy to uncover more about the brilliant obsessive-compulsive television detective Adrian Monk. With the guidance of history’s greatest thinkers, readers learn who Monk really is, why he is the way he is, and what they can learn from him. Chapters address such topics as Mr. Monk’s unique use of logic, how everyone uses their own phobias and idiosyncrasies to navigate a threatening world, and what Monk says about what it means to be a hero (albeit a flawed one). Monk's relationships receive special attention: his dedication to his late wife, Trudy, teaches us about romantic partnership, while his relationships with Sharona and Natalie reveal the importance of friendship in dealing with illness, death and tragedy."
In the words of the author, "In order to be sure that the reader is able to enjoy the book, every chapter has an even number of words. You’ll thank me later."
Wittkower also edited iPod and Philosophy (Open Court, Nov. 2008) and has just shipped the manuscript for Facebook and Philosophy (Open Court, May 2010). In addition to these books and peer-reviewed academic publications, he has also contributed chapters to Anime and Philosophy and Radiohead and Philosophy since joining CCU in 2008.
Wittkower earned a doctorate in philosophy from Vanderbilt University and specializes in applied ethics, social and political philosophy and late modern philosophy.
