Justified and Philosophy : Shoot First, Think Later

The sharp-shooting authors in Justified and Philosophy take aim at many of the same philosophical problems that the Justified TV series grapples with. For instance, is Tim Olyphant's character, Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, morally justified in using his Wild-Wild-West-style vigilante tactics to clean up Harlan County, Kentucky? After all, the meth dealers, thieves, murderers, and other low-life scumbags all deserve what's coming to them, right? Not so fast, Quick-Draw McGraw! What about the law? What about a thorough and complete investigation of matters before dispensing so-called "justice"? What about the idea of the punishment fitting the crime?

Deputy Marshal Givens wears a white hat and fights the "bad guys" so he must be a "good guy," right? His opponents are violent drug dealers, white supremacists, and thieves. Givens carries a badge, but when he shoots or kills people, is it always justified? What other choice does he have? Would any other method be as effective in rural eastern Kentucky where criminal activity is one of the few viable options for making a living? The different chapters delve into a variety of fascinating philosophical themes that emerge in this modern-day cowboy show.

Rod Carveth is Assistant Professor of Public Relations and Advertising at Morgan State University. He has co-edited books on media economics and the TV series Mad Men. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Communication from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He lives in Towson, MD.

Robert Arp holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Saint Louis University. He is the author of Scenario Visualization (2008) and co-author of three books including What's Good on TV (2011) and Philosophy DeMYSTifieD (2001). He is the editor of 1001 Ideas that Changed the Way We Think (2013) and co-editor of at least a dozen other books, including Batman and Philosophy (2008), South Park and Philosophy: You Know I Learned Something Today (2006), and Breaking Bad and Philosophy (2012). He lives in Overland Park, KS.