The Humanism of Doctor Who

<p> From 1963 to 1989 the BBC television program <I>Doctor Who</I> followed a time-traveling human-like alien called The Doctor as he sought to help people save civilizations and right wrongs. Since its 2005 revival <I>Doctor Who</I> has become a pop culture phenomenon surpassing its classic period popularity and reaching a larger more diverse audience. Though created as a family program the series has dramatized serious themes in philosophy science religion and politics. <I>Doctor Who</I>'s thoughtful presentation of a secular humanist view of the universe stands in stark contrast to the flashy special effects central to most science fiction on television. This examination of <I>Doctor Who</I> from the perspective of philosophical humanism assesses the show's careful exploration of such topics as justice ethics good and evil mythology and knowledge.</p>