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Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington: Understanding Political Doublespeak Through Philosophy and Jokes

by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein

Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington: Understanding Political Doublespeak Through Philosophy and Jokes Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein, authors of the national bestseller Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar, aren't falling for any election year claptrap — and they don't want their readers to either! In Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington, our two favorite philosopher-comedians return just in time to save us from the double-speak, flim-flam, and alternate reality of politics in America.

Deploying jokes and cartoon as well as the occasional insight from Aristotle and his peers, Cathcart and Klein explain what politicos are up to when they state: "The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence." (Donald Rumsfeld), "It depends on what the meaning of the word [is' is." (Bill Clinton), or even, "We hold these truths to be self-evident" (Thomas Jefferson, et al).

Drawing from the pronouncements of everyone from Caesar to Condoleeza Rice, Genghis Kahn to Hillary Clinton, and Adolf Hitler to Al Sharpton. Cathcart and Klein help us learn to identify tricks such as "The Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy" (non causa pro causa) and the "The Fallacy Fallacy" (argumentum and logicam). Aristotle and an Aardvark is for anyone who ever felt like the politicos and pundits were speaking Greek. At least Cathcart and Klein provide the Latin name for it (raudatio publica)!

About the Author

Tom Cathcart and Dan Klein pursued the usual careers after majoring in philosophy at Harvard. Tom worked with street gangs in Chicago and dropped in and out of various divinity schools. Dan wrote jokes for comedians, designed stunts for Candid Camera, and continues to pen thrillers. Each lives with his wife in New England.

Product Details

ISBN:
9780810995413
Subtitle:
Understanding Political Doublespeak Through Philosphy and Jokes
Author:
Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein
Author:
Klein, Daniel
Author:
Cathcart, Thomas
Publisher:
Abrams Image
Subject:
United states
Subject:
Politics and government
Subject:
General
Subject:
Political
Subject:
Topic - Political
Subject:
General Humor
Subject:
General Philosophy
Subject:
United States Politics and government.
Copyright:
Publication Date:
January 2008
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
191
Dimensions:
716x562x84 52

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