Star Trek philosophy

Look, in many ways I'm very old fashioned about higher education but I actually think this is a good idea:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - While most US students pour over textbooks for their university philosophy or sociology courses, a lucky few will be watching Star Trek or heading to the local cafe to chat up the regulars.

And it will all be in the line of educational duty because intellectual offerings such as "Philosophy and Star Trek" or "The Cafe and Public Life" are deadly serious courses at some of the best institutes of higher education in the United States.

The Star Trek class, you might joke, boldly goes where no philosophy course has gone before.

The course that revolves around the cult TV show is like a university introduction to philosophy course, but with the added allure of being a good excuse to watch the adventures of Mr Spock and Captain Picard.

"There is this hook of the Star Trek episode showing the philosophy right there on the screen," professor Linda Wetzel said.
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If music is more your thing, sign up for "Walk Tall: Political Themes in the Lyrics of Bruce Springsteen" at the State University of New York at Potsdam.
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What some see as oddball courses are seen by the professors who teach them as a way of introducing students to new concepts through a medium they are familiar with.

"In the Springsteen course, we might start out talking about Springsteen and end up talking about why Congress doesn't do much about poverty in the United States," Massaro said.

Alfred University in New York state offers a course that looks at history from the perspective of the Britain's Monty Python comedy team.

It makes excellent sense to me. An example is an example. And we'll get through to people much better by using familiar examples than outdated ones.