BLACK SABBATH & PHILOSOPHY – MASTERING REALITY

A philosophical look at heavy metal’s dark masters of reality, Black Sabbath.

Black Sabbath is one of the world’s most influential and enduring rock bands. Dubbed ‘the Beatles of heavy metal’ by Rolling Stone, they helped to define a genre with classic songs whose lyrics reveal hidden depth and philosophical insight.

Sabbath’s songs confront existential despair, social instability, political corruption, the horrors of war, and the nature of evil. This book explores the wide range of profound ideas in the band’s music and lyrics to help you understand Black Sabbath as never before.

Discusses and debates essential Black Sabbath topics and themes, such as the problem of evil, War Pigs and the nature of just war theory, whether or not Sabbath is still Sabbath without Ozzy, and whether ‘evil is in the ear of the beholder’.

Provides a deeper appreciation and understanding of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Ronnie James Dio. Brings some of history’s heaviest thinkers to bear on the band’s music, from Aristotle and Nietzsche, to Schopenhauer and Marx.

About the author – William Irwin is Herve A. LeBlanc Distinguished Service Professor in the Philosophy Department at King’s College, Pennsylvania, United States. He is also the author of, Metallica and Philosophy: A Crash Course in Brain Surgery.

Paperback, 204 pages, Wiley/Blackwell.