Tattoos - Philosophy for Everyone

Body art or eyesore, a celebration of individuality, or at very least a conversation piece, tattoos provide fertile ground for philosophical discussion, raising intriguing questions about subjects ranging from aesthetics to feminism and from semiotics to the philosophy of the person. The abundance of tattooed religious symbols also raises questions surrounding the belief in and worship of God, and even the stigma associated with tattoos can initiate discussion on moral and political philosophy. Providing a broad arena for philosophical dialogue, essays include: * Tattoos as an expression of freedom * Confessions of a tattooed Buddhist philosopher * Women and tattoos * Tattoos and personal identity Papers, animatedly inked by philosophers (most with tattoos), tattoo artists, and tattoo enthusiasts, offer enlightening insights into the nature of tattoos and the tattooing arts and the rich philosophical analysis that can be drawn from them.