The Philosophy of Avatar

Book excerpt: What would Aristotle think of Team Avatar? How would Plato view the Fire Lord? Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the most popular and acclaimed works of the last several decades. Using the classic structure of a magical hero fighting against a tyrannical emperor, Avatar creates an inquisitive, empathetic narrative about redemption and renewal in the aftermath of a debilitating war that has raged for a century. Through its three seasons and sixty-one episodes, Avatar contemplates not only what it means to be just, but what it means to build a just society. It interrogates our relationships with each other, with ourselves, and with our natural environment. Viewing Avatar from the perspective of philosophers past and present, The Philosophy of Avatar demonstrates how the show offers both timeless and timely wisdom. The show carries the spirits of both the ancient Athenian teacher Plato and the modern American environmentalist Rachel Carson. Just as Avatar warns against drawing wisdom from only one source, The Philosophy of Avatar takes care to examine the series from a variety of perspectives so as to better demonstrate the wisdom it can offer about understanding ourselves and our world. Whether you're an Avatar fan or a philosophy aficionado, The Philosophy of Avatar will delight and challenge you. Joshua Fagan is a critic, novelist, and essayist from Colorado Springs. Since 2016, he has written extensively about Avatar. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of the science-fiction magazine Orion's Belt. His YouTube channel has received over one million views.