Taylor Swift and Philosophy

Is Taylor Swift a philosopher?

What can her songs tell us about ethics and society?

What is the nature of friendship?

Should you forgive someone for breaking your heart?

Taylor Swift is a ＂Mastermind＂ when it comes to relationships, songwriting, and performing sold-out stadium tours. But did you know that Taylor is also a philosophical mastermind?

Taylor Swift and Philosophy is the first book to explore the philosophical topics that arise from Taylor Swift’s life and music. Edited and authored by Swifties who also happen to be philosophers and scholars, this fun and engaging book is written with general readers in mind--you don’t have to be a devoted fan or a specialist in philosophy to explore the themes, concepts, and questions expressed in Taylor’s songs.

Presenting top-tier research and new perspectives on important contemporary issues, twenty-seven chapters discuss the philosophical contexts of Taylor’s work, such as the ethics of reputational damage, the impacts of first impressions, the moral obligation to speak out against injustice, and much more.

Taylor Swift and Philosophy is a must-read for Swifties who want to deepen their appreciation and understanding of Taylor’s work, as well as for philosophy students and scholars with an interest in popular culture and media studies.

Catherine M. Robb is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Tilburg University. Her research interests include ethics, metaphysics, aesthetics, and applied philosophy, with a focus on the nature and value of ability, skill and talent, and related ethical implications. She is currently completing a manuscript on the philosophy of fame and celebrity.

Georgie Mills is a Research Fellow at Delft University of Technology. She is primarily a philosopher of science, emotion, and medicine with a range of interests in the philosophy of pop culture. She has published work on Punk, Post-Punk, Britney Spears, and Ted Lasso.