The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy: Hogwarts for Muggles »

GREGORY BASSHAM is chair of the Philosophy Department and a professor of philosophy at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He is coeditor of the forthcoming The Hobbit and Philosophy and has coedited The Lord of the RIngs and Philosophy, The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy, and Basketball and Philosophy.

WILLIAM IRWIN is a professor of philosophy at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 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 Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy.

Is it always wrong to use a love potion?

Is death something to be feared . . . or "mastered"?

What can Severus Snape teach us about the possibility of redemption?

Is love the most powerful magic of all?

J. K. Rowling's wildly popular Harry Potter books may appear to be simple children's tales on the surface, but like Hogwarts, they conceal many hidden chambers, trapdoors, and perplexing secrets. Drawing on all seven books in the Harry Potter series, The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy offers a powerful brew of insights about good and evil, love, death, power, sacrifice, and hope. Is it true, as Dumbledore says, that our choices reveal far more about us than our abilities do? Is there an afterlife, and what might it be like? Here's a Pensieve for your thoughts. So take a healthy slug of Baruffio's Brain Elixir and join Bassham's Army of talented philosophers in exploring the mind-stretching deeper questions of the Potter books and films.

To learn more about the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, visit www.andphilosophy.com

BLACKWELL PHILOSOPHY AND POP CULTURE SERIES

This book has not been approved, licensed, or sponsored by any entity or person involved in creating or producing Harry Potter, the book series, or films.

Foreword Tom Morris Morris, Tom

Acknowledgments: Some House Points I'd Like to Award

Introduction: Harry Potter and the Enchantment of Philosophy 1

PART ONE The Horcrux of the Matter: Destiny, Identity, and the Soul

1 The Soul in Harry Potter Scott Sehon Sehon, Scott 7

2 Sirius Black: Man or Dog? Eric Saidel Saidel, Eric 22

3 Destiny in the Wizarding World Jeremy Pierce Pierce, Jeremy 35

PART TWO The Most Powerful Magic of All

4 Choosing Love: The Redemption of Severus Snape David Paul Deavel Deavel, David Paul 53

5 Love Potion No. 93/4 Gregory Bassham Bassham, Gregory 66

6 Harry Potter, Radical Feminism, and the Power of Love Anne Collins Smith Smith, Anne Collins 80

PART THREE Potterwatch: Freedom and Politics

7 Patriotism, House Loyalty, and the Obligations of Belonging Andrew P. Mills Mills, Andrew P. 97

8 Dumbledore's Politics Regan Lance Reitsma Reitsma, Regan Lance 113

9 Dumbledore, Plato, and the Lust for Power Alan J. Kellner Kellner, Alan J. 128

PART FOUR The Room of Requirement: A Potter Potpourri

10 Is Dumbledore Gay? Who's to Say? Tamar Szabo Gendler Gendler, Tamar Szabo 143

11 Choices vs. Abilities: Dumbledore on Self-Understanding Gregory Bassham Bassham, Gregory 157

12 The Magic of Personal Transformation S. Joel Garver Garver, S. Joel 172

13 Just in Your Head? J. K. Rowling on Separating Reality from Illusion Gregory Bassham Bassham, Gregory 185

14 A Pensieve for Your Thoughts? Harry Potter and the Magic of Memory Amy Kind Kind, Amy 198

15 A Hogwarts Education: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Gregory Bassham Bassham, Gregory 212

PART FIVE Beyond The Veil: Death, Hope, and Meaning

16 The Real Secret of the Phoenix: Moral Regeneration through Death Charles Taliaferro Taliaferro, Charles 229

17 Beyond Godric's Hollow: Life after Death and the Search for Meaning Jerry L. Walls Walls, Jerry L. 246

18 Why Harry and Socrates Decide to Die: Virtue and the Common Good Michael W. Austin Austin, Michael W. 258

Contributors: The Hogwarts (for Muggles) Faculty 271

The Marauder's Index 279