Michel S. Beaulieu is an assistant professor of history at Lakehead University.

William Irwin is a professor of philosophy at King's College. He originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books as coeditor of the bestselling The Simpsons and Philosophy and has overseen recent titles including Batman and Philosophy, House and Philosophy, and Watchmen and Philosophy.

Instruction Booklet.

PART ONE: BASIC CONTROLS AND UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHARACTERS.

1 The Spiky-Haired Mercenary vs. the French Narrative Theorist: Final Fantasy VII and the Writerly Text (Benjamin Chandler).

2 Kefka, Nietzsche, Foucault: Madness and Nihilism in Final Fantasy VI (Kylie Prymus).

3 Judging the Art of Video Games: Hume and the Standard of Taste (Alex Nuttall).

PART TWO: PLAYING THE GAME-BUT WHAT IF IT'S NOT A GAME?

4 The Lifestream, Mako, and Gaia (Jay Foster).

5 Gaia and Environmental Ethics in The Spirits Within (Jason P. Blahuta).

6 Objectification of Conscious Life Forms in Final Fantasy (Robert Arp and Sarah Fisk).

PART THREE: ABILITIES YOU NEVER KNEW YOU HAD.

7 Final Fantasy and the Purpose of Life (Greg Littmann).

8 The Four Warriors of Light Saved the World, but They Don't Deserve Our Thanks (Nicolas Michaud).

PART FOUR: SIDE QUESTS OF THE ENLIGHTENED.

9 Shinto and Alien Influences in Final Fantasy VII (Jonah Mitropoulos).

10 Kupo for Karl and the Materialist Conception of History (Michel S. Beaulieu).

11 Sin, Otherworldliness, and the Downside to Hope (David Hahn).

PART FIVE: OTHER WAYS TO ENJOY THE GAME SO IT NEVER ENDS.

12 Human, All Too Human: Cloud's Existential Quest for Authenticity (Christopher R. Wood).

13 Is the Fear of Stopping Justified? (Kevin Fitzpatrick).

14 What's in a Name? Cid, Cloud, and How Names Refer (Andrew Russo and Jason Southworth).

CONTRIBUTORS: Party Menu.

INDEX: Game Tips.