The Hunger Games and Philosophy

Can entertainment be dangerous?

Do ordinary moral rules apply in the arena?

Can philosophy help Katniss decide between Gale and Peeta?

Could muttations someday become a reality?

Can the world of the Hunger Games shine a light into the dark corners of our own world? Katniss Everdeen is "the girl who was on fire," but she is also the girl who makes us think, dream, question authority, and rebel. The postapocalyptic world of Panem's twelve districts is a divided society on the brink of war and struggling to survive, while the Capitol lives in the lap of luxury and pure contentment. At every turn in the Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss, Peeta, Gale, and their many allies wrestle with harrowing choices and ethical dilemmas that push them to the brink. This thoughtful guide draws on the work of Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Charles Darwin, and other engaging philosophical thinkers to take you deeper into the story. It gives you new insights into the Hunger Games series and its key characters, plot lines, and themes, including war, authenticity, social class, personal identity, altruism, gender, art, fashion, and moral choice.