Back to the Future and Philosophy: Essays on Traveling Through the Space-Time Continuum

In 1985, Marty, Doc, and the citizens of Hill Valley first burst onto the big screen in an epic time-traveling adventure that has entertained audiences for more than a generation. Since then, the Back to the Future films have become one of the most beloved sci-fi comedy franchises of all time. This is no doubt due in part to the comedic timing of Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, as well as the overall adventurous spirit of all three movies. However, part of what has allowed the films to endure is also the deep, sometimes confounding questions they raise in regard to the nature of time-travel, the hurdles of relating to your parents, and a host of other mysteries that arise when traversing the space-time continuum.

It is just those questions that this essay collection attempts to raise, clarify, and maybe even answer. It’s full of insights for any Back to the Future fan, whether layman or scholar.

Joshua Heter is an associate professor of philosophy at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri. He has published a number of books on popular culture and philosophy. Richard Greene is a professor of philosophy and the director of the Richard Richards Institute for Ethics at Weber State University. He is the author of two previous book.