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Unlock the Secrets of Hyrule with the Power of Philosophy A groundbreaking and critically acclaimed masterpiece,
The Legend of Zelda was released in Japan in 1986. That first entry spawned one of the greatest series in gaming history, leading up to
Echoes of Wisdom in 2024. Link's quest to vanquish evil, unite the Triforce, and restore peace to Hyrule is at the heart of most
Zelda games, but it's not just the story that has captivated fans: countless elements of this beloved series, from innovative combat in
Ocarina of Time, to the unparalleled exploration of
Breath of the Wild, are deeply immersive and engaging. The
Zelda series is about more than adventure-it's a world brimming with deep philosophical questions. Spanning fate and free will to ethics and identity, the series invites players to ponder profound ideas while battling monsters and solving puzzles.
Zelda and Philosophy takes you on a quest through these thought-provoking themes, offering fresh insights into your favorite games. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the series, this book will make you see Hyrule in a whole new way. Written in an easy-to-read style,
Zelda and Philosophy explores questions such as:
- Can Link have free will if he is always destined to defeat Ganon(dorf)?
- How does the Triforce illustrate the virtues of Confucius and Aristotle?
- Are Bokoblins people? And, if so, is it wrong to kill them and other monsters in Hyrule?
- Does Link ever get bored with rescuing Zelda and restoring peace to the land?
- Why are Zelda games so immersive and fun to play?
- If the Lens of Truth is used to identify the contents of Treasure Chests, does that count as cheating?
Perfect for gamers, philosophers, and anyone who loves thinking about the deeper meaning of their favorite adventures,
Zelda and Philosophy is as immersive as the games themselves-once you start reading, you won't want to stop.
List of contents
Notes on Contributors ix
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction: Hey! Listen! 1
Luke Cuddy Part 1 Fusing Philosophical Kinstones: Community and Beauty 5 1 Hyrule and the State of Nature 7
Devon Cass 2 The Hylian Condition: Link Isn't the Hero Alone 15
Joshua Hunt 3 Majora's Mask and the Carnivalesque 23
Siobhan Lyons 4 The Stark and Terrible Beauties of Hyrule 31
Devon Brickhouse- Bryson Part 2 Lenses of Truth 41 5 The Legend of the Zelda Map: A Look at Truth in Games and Reality 43
Luke Cuddy 6 Are Robbie and Purah Mad Scientists? Scientific Norms in the Era of the Wilds 53
Will Rawleigh Copyrighted Material 7 Gaining the Strength to Go Alone: Educational Philosophy in Hyrule 65
Bobbie L. Eicher and David A. Joyner 8 Shift of the Kingdom: Zelda's History and the Essence of the Video Game Saga 75
Federico Dal Barco 9 Time Travel and Paradoxes in Ocarina of Time 85
Brandon Stariha and Adam P. Taylor Part 3 Playing with Din's Fire: Ethics and Virtue 95 10 Solving the Puzzle of Cheating: Honor and Integrity in Hyrule 97
Charles Joshua Horn 11 Leave the Bokoblins Alone: On the Humane Treatment of Monsters 107
Kyle York 12 Wisdom, Courage, and Power: The Unity of Virtue in Hyrule 115
James William Lincoln 13 Personhood beyond the Hyliocene in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom 127
Zoe L. Tongue 14 "The Right Thing ... What Is It? I Wonder ...": Moral Perspectives in Majora's Mask 135
Luc Pelletier Part 4 "I Am Error": Meaning, Freedom, and Destiny 143 15 Can Link Do Otherwise? Prophecy, Fate, and Free Will in Zelda 145
Joshua Tepley 16 Is Link's Life Meaningful? 155
Kiki Berk 17 Eternal Return of the Link 165
Tim Jones 18 Being- Link: Thrown into Hyrule 173
Walter Barta 19 Understanding Nature by Reflecting on Zelda 183
Timothy Brown Part 5 "Take Any Road You Want": The Experience of Zelda 191 20 The Joy of Puzzle- Solving: Why Zelda Games Are So Engaging 193
Jason Rose 21 Remix and Restrictive Creativity in Tears of the Kingdom 203
Seth M. Walker 22 Intermittent Flow in Hyrule 213
Casey Rentmeester 23 Kingdoms of Light and Dread in the Depths: Exploring the Aesthetic and Moral Power of Myth in the Legends of Zelda 221
Jeremy E. Scarbrough 24 Hiking in Hyrule: Immersion and the Suspension of Disbelief 231
Alexander Christian
About the author
LUKE CUDDY is a professor in the philosophy department at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA. He's edited several pop-culture and philosophy books including BioShock and Philosophy and HALO and Philosophy. He also occasionally publishes on Substack (substack.com/@lukecuddy) and Medium (medium.com/@lukecuddy).
