The Twilight Zone and Philosophy: A Dangerous Dimension to Visit

It is hard to characterize The Twilight Zone, which had so much range, but it is most understandable as a collection of “genre stories.” Usually, the term “science fiction” is used to encapsulate these types of tales at the bookstore, and the show did sometimes take its viewers off the planet and feature visiting extraterrestrials, but there was also horror, mystery, and fantasy. The series is considered one of the most influential television shows of all time, its angry, realist, idealist author, Rod Serling, iconic.

The Twilight Zone was more than just its horror theme. It was about justice, retribution, and punishment, often featuring a dark or ironic take on these issues. The Twilight Zone often held people accountable for their actions while espousing seemingly disparate philosophies. Occasionally, characters are rewarded in The Twilight Zone. In this book, one finds a plethora of philosophical treatises and arguments that discuss the show’s sense of philosophical justice. Remember that many of the show’s viewers were not getting moral lessons from the church, but instead from The Twilight Zone. The show was vast and profound, and one finds here many signposts for their trip down fan memory lane.