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Well the more or less casual bit is really annoying me atm.

I think we should at least add anime/manga that approach philosophical subjects on a recurring basis (do these words make sense <.<.... >.> sry if they do not i'm a bit sleepy).

If a series only lightly touches philosophical subjects in say 3-4-5 episodes out of 21-26 then it is not eligible for the club in my opinion.

However if said series contains a small portion of philosophy in the majority of its episodes (even if only to bring up the subject not necessarily commenting it) then we may discuss whether or not to add it to the list.

If the anime/manga follows through with one subject then it should be on the list.

This is only my personal opinion on the meaning of the term "casual" so feel free to do as you wish regardless.

I haven't watched Black Lagoon yet so i'll let you decide what category the anime belongs too.

Edit: I'm pretty sure some of the above sentences are formulated oddly, but i'm too sleepy to try and fix them right now. If there's something you don't understand i'll do my best to try and sort things out later.

As I said, it's debatable... and I certainly won't insist on it being added.

Well i usually tend to find ideas wherever i look. I can find something worthwhile in most of the things i see even if the author didn't make it a main theme.

A worthy example imho is Bleach. Allthough the inconsistent powerscaling and the latter arcs are increasingly silly there is still something of value in the series.

Most of you would disagree that bleach contains such subject but i'm going to try and name some of the ones i've identified:

-The difference between our animal nature and the way we suppress it,
separating ourselves from it
a) the instinct driven animal - hollow
b) the "higher" energy beings originating from humans - shinigami
c) the normal human being with the possibility of becoming either of these
d) whether or not by transcending our bodies we lose our animal side - vaizoreds

You can have a lengthy discussion on these subjects alone.
The fact that these subjects aren't thoroughly explored in the anime/manga does not mean they were not introduced on purpose.
....................................

In the end maybe it's just me seeing things that are not there.

Either way in my opinion if we were to use Bleach as an example i would classify it inbetween the second and third personal aformentioned categories.
This just goes to show that even those categories are lacking since first and foremost bleach isn't philosophy oriented.

Can we still say that an anime/manga is philosophical based solely on whether or not it has an elaborate philosophical subject?
And thus the debate continues..........

Oh. I keep my anime list at another site. ^^'

Well, on that note, how about we have a nice long discussion of the philosophy of Naruto... or better yet, Pokemon (I've always wanted to write a deadpan paper about Pokemon's complex literary themes).

While I think there is plenty within the Naruto realm that is worthy of philosphical discussion, I'm don't think the show itself explores any of the themes it raises.

One of its most powerful themes is its approach to human community. Who is in; who is out? What makes a family? How important is it to rely upon others? to have others to protect?

Add Durarara

necro-replying :s but w/e



well...i think that the second season is very philosophical, though it is somewhat final in whether lelouch is right or not.

the anime portrays him as a hero, or anti hero, or tragic hero, however you see him, but does he actually do what is right?

I'm surprised that Homunculus hasn't been suggested yet, so here I am officially releasing it's campaign. If anyone is wondering why, just read it :)

Well this is my first post in this Club, so I hope I don't make any mistake^^

At first I have a question: What makes an Anime realted to this club? Should it just contain philosophical themes, or should they be the main aim of this anime, or shoud they just be discussed a bit, or should they only make you think about new philosophical themes?

There are also some Animes, where I can see quite many philosophical themes.

.hack//sign
Chaos;Head
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu

Uchikomatic Days and Tachikoma na Hibi are philosophical?

I second Homunculus. It looks at the mind's influence on the perception of reality. I read something similar in a book by Hegel, but I'm to lazy to pull it up.

Also, is Sanctuary philosophical? I've read it, but it seemed like a crime story with some very light philosophical elements. I don't think it's enough to add it to the club relations list.

What exactly is philosophical about Suzumiya Haruhi? Even if you can call some of the ideas philosophical, there is no in depth exploration of those ideas, and it would just mislead people as to the type of show it is if they see it in the club relations.

Also, I don't really see what is philosophical about Kino's Journey: The Land of Sickness for You. It just seems like a tragedy story to me. Just because the main series is philosophical doesn't mean every sequel, prequel, and side story is philosophical.

The Ravages of Time should definitely be added to the list. Just to quote from wikipedia:



I guess most people don't read manhua, but I thought you guys might dig this.

I'll admit that this is kind of an asspull, but the Haruhi franchise does toy with the notion of dealing with a God's psychology, particularly in how said God's unconsciousness is for all intents and purposes the universe itself. The plot generally focuses more on the group character dynamics and the politics of the powers that be, but Haruhi's unconscious presence does loom over the narrative rather ominously. Since the story is still unfinished, there's no telling how--if at all--this may develop further, but I figured I'd input my two cents in the mean time.

Superficially it dabbles in miscellaneous possible worlds theories, time travel, general absurdism, implications of solipsism, etc, but beside mentioning or alluding to them I haven't seen any kind of substantial development upon them--but it isn't like most of these works really elaborate on philosophy beyond a few lines of dialogue or a monologue or two anyway.

About Suzumiya Haruhi: careful to don't mistake surrealism with philosophical themes. It surely have some, but the main plot approach is using surreal elements

I agree with you, Merridian, but about not being finished, let's remember that interpretation and deduction are meant to be done personally by each person, although I'm clearly speaking seriously, and avoiding obvious absurd theories made out of nothing, based on the "emptyness" of the end

People in this club are supposed to serious, right?

.hack//sign have personal values and impressions for playing disorders. Taking these out, is a surrealistic story, approaching the MMORPG theme and real-life-scaping, with the mystery element of Tsukasa being unableto disconnect, real deaths coused by the game, the Twilight Key, and so on. Tehy're mistery to me, not philosophy

Suzumiya Haruhi I have spoke in a post right below

Chaos Head I agree, but for personal reasons.If I hadn't myself the mind problems and character/idea identifications, it would be same case of .hack//sign: a surreal story meant for few people who have own private reasons to go deeper on it.

Except, maybe, the concept of isolating and controling the senses, like Descartes said that we could bea bunch of brains floating on water barrels. This is an interesting topic, but I don't know if others will accept it, specially because it is not exactly the main focus of the series

Is Full Metal Alchemy not Philosophical enough?

hmm...? A battle versus Seven Deadly Sins and Dante (you know the real Dante right?) Idk about you guys but i sure made me think about -Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. The Law of Equivalence sure make a fine topoic for a debate. What do you think?

Anything can make a fine topic of debate.

So do that.

This "Law" has it's variations of belief and interpretation in real world, probably the most known is the "Karma" from Eastern religions

This "Law" has it's variations of belief and interpretation in real world, probably the most known is the "Karma" from Eastern religions

but didn't Dante also said that this 'Law' is a fallacy.

For example, if a farmer did his best in planting crops but then a storm came and ruin his field. The farmer didn't gain anything after all his efforts in planting.