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Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington
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Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington

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Description:

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)!

Features:
Product Details:
Author: Thomas Cathcart
Hardcover: 196 pages
Publisher: Abrams Image
Publication Date: January 01, 2008
Language: English
ISBN: 0810995417
Package Length: 7.1 inches
Package Width: 5.1 inches
Package Height: 0.8 inches
Package Weight: 0.55 pounds
Average Customer Rating: based on 37 reviews
 
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Review:3.5
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5On Aristotle and an Aardvark  Feb 17, 2010
This book arrived in great condition as the seller indicated. I haven't had a change to read it yet, but if it is anything like Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar, I am sure I won't be dissapointed.

3Not as good as their first  Sep 06, 2009
I didn't like this as much as Plato and a Platypus. It may be, in fact I suspect it very much is, that while it's fun to joke and think about philosophy, I take politics more seriously. Oh well. If you can laugh more easily about politics than I you may enjoy it, but, in all honesty, the rhetorical tricks used by wingers and nutjobs don't make me think of funny jokes - they just make me angry.
Recommended: Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . .: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

5A Funny Book  May 10, 2009
A Funny Book

This is a very funny book. Cathcart and Klein manage to teach a little philosophy along with the humor. They seem to understand their subject and they make it fun for the reader.

I enjoyed this book even more than their other, similar, book:

Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington

I enjoyed this book and wholeheartedly recommend it to others.


4Skewering political windbag was never funnier!  May 04, 2009
I loved "Plato and a platypus" and am working my way through the series. I was literally doubled over laughing at "Plato/platyput". Although the positions the authors endorse are quite undeniably left of center throughout the book (what could you expect from two men who spent a good span of their life studying philosophy?) I still found it hilarious and real page turner. I will have to buy the next one.

1 of 2 found the following review helpful:

1Move on  May 03, 2009
I read the whole book believing at some point would move past the ad hominem attacks on Bush, such as comparing him to a monkey. But sadly the book is just a catharsis bashing of George Jr. and Sr. and even Barbara. At some point even to most anti-Bush reader will have to tell the author to "move on,".

Interestingly, the only two examples he uses that the average reader will recall from memory is Bill Clinton's definition of what "is" is, and the famed Washington politician, Johnny Cochran's "if it don't fit you must acquit". Apparently Bill Clinton was technically logically correct therefore not doublespeak but Johnny Cochran's catch phrase was doublespeak. And if you were in doubt the author rehashes the whole O.J. trial at length.

But the main point of the author's running commentary from the Bush examples is that the "surge" in Iraq was really an "escalation" and it's illogical to believe it will work. Just makes the whole work dated.

To someone who may want to read the book for an historical perspective; I will offer one gem from the author. The following oft said line is a fallacy, "Those who don't study history, are doomed to repeat it." So don't bother.

 
 
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