---
product_id: 1702112
title: "Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . .: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes"
price: "125.60 DT"
currency: TND
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reviews_count: 9
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store_origin: TN
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---

# Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . .: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes

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Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . .: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes [Cathcart, Thomas, Klein, Daniel] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . .: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes

Review: Cathcart and Klein open the door... - Philosophical conversationalists, Dimitri and Tasso, have been ordained by Cathcart and Klein to guide us through a brilliantly written tome-free survey of philosophy as viewed through the lens of a 21st century skeptic. Plato and a Platypus opens the doors to the various schools of philosophy employing whimsical contemporary illustrations that at once surprise and inform the reader. There are startlingly delightful cartoons, too. Each page offers up an intro to a serious speech, an ice-breaker for a cocktail party, or an intellectual game for a baby shower. The reader is at once compelled to both keep reading and to cut away to share a passage with a friend. (That's what literate people do when tweaked; they read to one another. I suggest it be limited to people over the age of 6, though my 5-year-old grandson became intrigued when I shared a tongue-in-cheek segment.) Yet, this book is far from one big joke. It is a scholarly work, complete with timeline and glossary, both of which are laced with humor that belie the academic content. It would be a rational text for many a college class. Critical thinking comes to mind. So do religion, ethics, math, logic, pragmatism, and English composition. If you buy one, buy two. This little reader is the perfect gift book for celebrations and simple pleasures. It is ideal for the friendly neighborhood philosopher. It is also a fine open-anywhere for moments when you want to think deeply without the weight of war or taxes. It is a definite buy and keep book. Highly recommended. La Vergne Rosow Author, Accessing the Classics: Great Reads for Adults, Teens, and English Language Learners
Review: A close second to Ben Franklin's "Fart Proudly" - So you are looking at all the various reviews of this book and you are asking yourself "what is going on?" Some people love it and some hate it (and note that the audience is almost all guys - hmmm). Some folks write terse harsh dismissals, some say it is the best book they have ever read and some write irrelevant reminiscences about their collage daze. Why such variable responses? I think these different reactions arise from the variability of foreknowledge of philosophy among the reviewers and the expectations they have of both the comedy and philosophy in the book. So maybe I can inform your expectations and either prevent you from buying the wrong book or stimulate you to buy the right one. The back panel of the book says "Finally, a crash course in philosophy via jokes." If you buy into this unfortunate promotional drivel you will be instantly disappointed. You are not actually going to learn a lot of philosophy from this book as others have noted. But come on, it is 199 pages of jokes with a bit of commentary by two old hippies who did undergraduate degrees in philosophy at Harvard. This ain't exactly like sitting at the feet of Aristotle in the lyceum for four years. (Hmmm - maybe that college reminiscence review ain't so bad after all). To truly appreciate the humor of this book (especially the punch line to the title - which is fabulous!) you need to have had at least some exposure to formal philosophy and its vocabulary. If you don't, try Mortimer Adler's "Aristotle for Everybody", Plato's "Republic" (I detest this disastrous book but you must read it) and "The Dream of Reason" by Anthony Gottlieb for starters. You will figure out where to go from there. And if you approach the book expecting every joke to cause you to roll in the isle like you were watching the late great Buddy Hackett doing standup in Vegas you will also be disappointed. Come on this is intellectual humor - you were expecting maybe Henny Youngman? And the authors say so. They define the level of humor as that which you might use at grad school party to try and get laid (hmmm - a dearth of women reviewers?). But the book does have its hysterical moments. I feared for my life when I made the mistake of telling the joke about the old Jewish gentleman who marries a very young lady he loves but cannot satisfy to a friend of mine while in the car. He laughed so hard he almost drove off the road. And the lesson of that joke is the fallacy of "post hoc ergo proctor hoc." (I told you, you need some vocabulary). The lessons in philosophy in the book are short entertaining vignettes with a meaning and a humorous punch line so it might just be the perfect book to put on the shelf in the guest bathroom if you know what I mean ("Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School" is definitely the best book of this category. No bathroom should be without it). So is it a great book? - naaah. Is it a good book? - Resoundingly yes. Does it deliver on its promise? - Every bit. Should you buy it? I don't know, what do I look like - chopped liver?

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN  | 0143113879 |
| Best Sellers Rank | #64,778 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #77 in Jokes & Riddles (Books) #109 in Humor Essays (Books) #3,770 in Reference (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,842) |
| Dimensions  | 5 x 0.55 x 6.97 inches |
| Edition  | Reprint |
| ISBN-10  | 9780143113874 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0143113874 |
| Item Weight  | 6 ounces |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 215 pages |
| Publication date  | June 24, 2008 |
| Publisher  | Penguin Books |

## Images

![Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . .: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/818nPGBJKdL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cathcart and Klein open the door...
*by L***. on July 12, 2007*

Philosophical conversationalists, Dimitri and Tasso, have been ordained by Cathcart and Klein to guide us through a brilliantly written tome-free survey of philosophy as viewed through the lens of a 21st century skeptic. Plato and a Platypus opens the doors to the various schools of philosophy employing whimsical contemporary illustrations that at once surprise and inform the reader. There are startlingly delightful cartoons, too. Each page offers up an intro to a serious speech, an ice-breaker for a cocktail party, or an intellectual game for a baby shower. The reader is at once compelled to both keep reading and to cut away to share a passage with a friend. (That's what literate people do when tweaked; they read to one another. I suggest it be limited to people over the age of 6, though my 5-year-old grandson became intrigued when I shared a tongue-in-cheek segment.) Yet, this book is far from one big joke. It is a scholarly work, complete with timeline and glossary, both of which are laced with humor that belie the academic content. It would be a rational text for many a college class. Critical thinking comes to mind. So do religion, ethics, math, logic, pragmatism, and English composition. If you buy one, buy two. This little reader is the perfect gift book for celebrations and simple pleasures. It is ideal for the friendly neighborhood philosopher. It is also a fine open-anywhere for moments when you want to think deeply without the weight of war or taxes. It is a definite buy and keep book. Highly recommended. La Vergne Rosow Author, Accessing the Classics: Great Reads for Adults, Teens, and English Language Learners

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A close second to Ben Franklin's "Fart Proudly"
*by W***. on January 17, 2009*

So you are looking at all the various reviews of this book and you are asking yourself "what is going on?" Some people love it and some hate it (and note that the audience is almost all guys - hmmm). Some folks write terse harsh dismissals, some say it is the best book they have ever read and some write irrelevant reminiscences about their collage daze. Why such variable responses? I think these different reactions arise from the variability of foreknowledge of philosophy among the reviewers and the expectations they have of both the comedy and philosophy in the book. So maybe I can inform your expectations and either prevent you from buying the wrong book or stimulate you to buy the right one. The back panel of the book says "Finally, a crash course in philosophy via jokes." If you buy into this unfortunate promotional drivel you will be instantly disappointed. You are not actually going to learn a lot of philosophy from this book as others have noted. But come on, it is 199 pages of jokes with a bit of commentary by two old hippies who did undergraduate degrees in philosophy at Harvard. This ain't exactly like sitting at the feet of Aristotle in the lyceum for four years. (Hmmm - maybe that college reminiscence review ain't so bad after all). To truly appreciate the humor of this book (especially the punch line to the title - which is fabulous!) you need to have had at least some exposure to formal philosophy and its vocabulary. If you don't, try Mortimer Adler's "Aristotle for Everybody", Plato's "Republic" (I detest this disastrous book but you must read it) and "The Dream of Reason" by Anthony Gottlieb for starters. You will figure out where to go from there. And if you approach the book expecting every joke to cause you to roll in the isle like you were watching the late great Buddy Hackett doing standup in Vegas you will also be disappointed. Come on this is intellectual humor - you were expecting maybe Henny Youngman? And the authors say so. They define the level of humor as that which you might use at grad school party to try and get laid (hmmm - a dearth of women reviewers?). But the book does have its hysterical moments. I feared for my life when I made the mistake of telling the joke about the old Jewish gentleman who marries a very young lady he loves but cannot satisfy to a friend of mine while in the car. He laughed so hard he almost drove off the road. And the lesson of that joke is the fallacy of "post hoc ergo proctor hoc." (I told you, you need some vocabulary). The lessons in philosophy in the book are short entertaining vignettes with a meaning and a humorous punch line so it might just be the perfect book to put on the shelf in the guest bathroom if you know what I mean ("Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School" is definitely the best book of this category. No bathroom should be without it). So is it a great book? - naaah. Is it a good book? - Resoundingly yes. Does it deliver on its promise? - Every bit. Should you buy it? I don't know, what do I look like - chopped liver?

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Perfect way to put philosophy in a reality context with humor.
*by G***T on May 28, 2025*

Philosophy through jokes. What a fabulous concept. The trio of books make philosophical concepts, easier to understand, quite interesting, and fun at the same time. These guys are geniuses.

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*Last updated: 2026-05-30*