For those who think that philosophy is boring or too complicated, here is a book that at first glance is surprising but that proves to be devilishly effective: They lived philosophers and made many happy Marianne Chaillan at Parallel editions. The great theories of Western philosophy are indeed approached through the prism of Disney cartoons.
The great Disney classics are universally known and the values they transpose resonate with each of us regardless of our culture or age. Also, it is not surprising to find examples of philosophy that are initially easier. Based on concrete examples, known to everyone, Marianne Chaillan, professor of philosophy and author of several books mixing pop culture and philosophy, explains notions of sometimes complex with a beautiful fluidity past the first 40 pages. Chapters that are short and precise are easy to read and accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds. They are independent of each other and can thus be read separately according to the interests of each and the questioning of the moment.
In They Lived Philosophers and Made Many Happy, the Disney contextualize philosophy in order to make it intelligible and digestible for all, which is already good. In mirror, philosophy explains certain behaviors that might seem strange to us. The topics addressed are also in tune with the times with a relationship to nature, animal welfare or technology that thinkers of previous generations were not confronted with and who therefore explore new fields of philosophy.
Released in December 2017, this 218-page paperback book deserves our full attention and allows us to put things in perspective at the beginning of the year. Throughout the pages we discover or rediscover classical thought while opening perspectives on current themes. If all goes well, at the end of each chapter we think a little about what we have just read.
