The Legend of Zelda Philosophy Book (Wait, what?)

[Negoogunogumbar]

Thanks Kotaku

As much as I like the series, I don't think it raises any philosophical questions. They only thing on the list there is probably the nature of time travel, and even that is only used a as game mechanic and never really any exploration of philosophy. There is a lot of debate over the timeline, but that's less philosophy and more putting together a jigsaw puzzle that's been through the shredder a few times.

If they wanted to do a Philosophy of [Video game] book, BioShock would have been the obvious choice with the use of objectivism and the idea of freewill. Half Life 2 has some of the same questions (minus the Rand) and even Portal could work with some philosophy relating to artificial intelligence and the psychology of Skinner boxes. However, Zelda really doesn't seem to be that type of game though. To me it's always been a tribute to the fantasy genre like Heroes is to comic books and Indiana Jones is to the old adventure serials.

[mikecamper]

I dont want anything more out of Zelda than pure entertainment.   I don't play the games  to specualate about the origins of the universe.   That's what my "Comsos" DVD's are for

[Be_yourself]

Okami is a good game to analyze too, it has many interesting characters with many different motives and interactions.  there are strong ideas behind that game.

Zelda however rather pales in comparison, MM is probably the most philosophical with the deepest story but other then that there isn't much too it, apart from what you already mentioned...

[Fairy penguin]

Links Awakening might be used for philosophy when you kill off Koholint so you can go back to Hyrule, but that isn't enough for a book. Other than that and what the moons kids say, there is nothing that that even remotely has anything to do with philosophy in Zelda, and certainly not a book.

*wonders if a similar book for Mario will be made.

[Xyz-Chan]

http://www.zeldauniverse.net/articles/the-legend/the-message-of-majoras-mask/

This seems to say there is a huge message in Majora's Mask. You are warned that it is quite a long read

[Be_yourself]

That is rather far fetched and i don't really count that as a legitimate philosophical theory(for want of a better way of saying it) i think it uses rather unlikely evidence that was not intended to be noticed or read in anyway.

i'm sure things like Link and Zelda's final discussion in the sky at the end of OOT could have some interesting connotations.

[Chibisuke Chan89]

This seems to say there is a huge message in Majora's Mask. You are warned that it is quite a long read

It should be noted that there is most likely a difference between a literary/symbolic/thematic message and a posed philosophical question.

[darkscar888]

Zelda is more symbolic if you ask me.

[Be_yourself]

This seems to say there is a huge message in Majora's Mask. You are warned that it is quite a long read

It should be noted that there is most likely a difference between a literary/symbolic/thematic message and a posed philosophical question.

mmm yes, there are many things in Zelda that would have literary interest, eg: Deku tree as father of the forest, Ganondorf coming from the desert, 6 sages etc.

[alexkenny]

Eeeh... What people do these days. Someone probably just wants to attract readers or believes in the Triforce.
I wish it were all real. We could all be heroes!

[darkscar888]

Its just a way to make money

[Shadow Link]

I like the fact that Zelda is going to have its own book on philosophy, especially those who are absolutely insane like me and have almost made it a religion. It has definitely saved me from going completely over the insanity edge...well, maybe not, but overthe lower levels of insanity, as it were.