"From Machiavellian city officials to big time mobsters (such as Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano, and Al Capone) to corrupt beat cops to overzealous G-men to suffragettes to abolitionists to innocent citizens caught in the crossfire, Boardwalk Empire is replete with philosophically compelling characters who find themselves in philosophically interesting situations. As Boardwalk Empire is based on historical events, political figures and mobsters, the philosophical issues raised bear on 'real life' in the way the few fictional television shows and movies do. We see parallels with the events in Boardwalk Empire and contemporary political events, and between the characters in Boardwalk Empire (good, bad, and ambiguous) and contemporary figures. It is one of the most popular HBO television shows ever and its popularity is on the rise. In this volume, twenty philosophers address issues in political philosophy, ethics, aesthetics, feminism, and metaphysics"--Provided by publisher.;Machiavelli on the Boardwalk / Greg Littmann -- Nucky Thompson superman? / Richard Greene -- Watching Boardwalk empire with Freud / Ron Hirschbein -- How to be happy on the Boardwalk / Patricia Brace and Maria Kingsbury -- Does it matter that Boardwalk empire is historically inaccurate? / Rod Carveth -- What's wrong with Agent Van Alden's God? / Roberto Sirvent and Neil Baker -- Blaming Nucky Thompson / Michael Da Silva -- When it's right to lie to a bootlegger / Don Fallis -- Nucky cleans up / Wieland Schwanebeck -- Absurd heroes / Rachel Robison-Greene -- Fighting for life in Atlantic City / John Fitzpatrick -- The women of Boardwalk empire / Rachel Robison-Greene -- Gillian's changes / Chelsi Barnard Archibald -- Two kinds of violence in Boardwalk empire / Deborah Mellamphy -- The stories some people tell / Cam Cobb.