Book description
A philosophical look at heavy metal's dark masters of reality, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath is one of the world's most influential and enduring
rock bands. Dubbed "the Beatles of heavy metal" by
Rolling Stone, they helped to define a genre with classic
songs like "Paranoid", "Iron Man", and "War
Pigs", songs whose lyrics reveal hidden depth and philosophical
insight. Their songs confront existential despair, social instability,
political corruption, the horrors of war, and the nature of evil. This
book explores the wide range of profound ideas in the band's music and
lyrics to help you understand Black Sabbath as never before.
- Discusses and debates essential Black Sabbath topics and themes,
such as the problem of evil, "War Pigs" and the nature
of just war theory, whether or not Sabbath is still Sabbath
without Ozzy, and whether "evil is in the ear of the beholder"
- Gives you new perspectives on Black Sabbath's music and lyrics
- Provides a deeper appreciation and understanding of Ozzy
Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Ronnie James Dio
- Brings some of history's heaviest thinkers to bear on the band's
music, from Aristotle and Nietzsche to Schopenhauer and Marx
So . . . can you help me, occupy my brain? Yes! Start reading
Black Sabbath and Philosophy.
William Irwin is professor of philosophy at King's College in
Pennsylvania. Irwin originated the philosophy and popular culture
genre of books with Seinfeld and Philosophy in 1999. Irwin has
also co-edited The Simpsons and Philosophy and edited The
Matrix and Philosophy and Metallica and Philosophy. He is
currently the General Editor of The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop
Culture series.
