Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Readers' Most Anticipated Books for Spring
Ubik

Questions About Ubik

by Philip K. Dick

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Ubik, please sign up.

Answered Questions (15)

This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Melissa Rininger The short answer: The coin is a reference to Plato. Wisdom is the key to unlocking the metaphysical question of reality: "There is one true coin for w…m´Ç°ù±ðThe short answer: The coin is a reference to Plato. Wisdom is the key to unlocking the metaphysical question of reality: "There is one true coin for which all things ought to be exchanged, and that is wisdom." Dick constructed the world of Ubik in a Platonic system: Theory of Knowledge, Theory of Forms, and the Conception of the Tripartite Soul. By the end of the novel, Joe Chip uses Socrates method of dialectics to see the difference between empirical reality and absolute Forms. He becomes the logistikan (logic), Ella represents spirit, and Jory represents appetite. Once wisdom (logic) overcomes the body's appetites, then logic/spirit/appetite align as one and they transcend--becoming the Total Man. The coin represents their transcendence and becoming One with God/the Immanent Mind/the Immovable Creator/the Univeral Being/whatever-you-want-to-call-IT. Ubik is a cosmological explanation for Dick's schizophrenic hallucinations and visions. The coin implies the nature of reality is cyclical and the direction of movement is circular depth, not linear.(less)
flag
I am very new to Philip K. Dick, so I would like to know what the perfect starter novel is?
Diego Eis +1 to "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep"…m´Ç°ù±ð+1 to "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep"(less)
flag
This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Mon El It was the rest of the psi crew that continually interfered with the living, trying to communicate with other dead people. They were so intent on not …m´Ç°ù±ðIt was the rest of the psi crew that continually interfered with the living, trying to communicate with other dead people. They were so intent on not believing the were killed in the blast,No one else could over Psi them, until the end when the one the knew was only death in blast, was in reality only survivor. If he does not survive, then they think they do! Just my two cents. Peace and never Stop Reading!(less)
flag
Can anyone help me better understand the point PKD was trying to make about Aristotle's theory of forms?
Elin Can't remember what it said in the book but this theory is Plato not Aristotle

Plato had an idea that the reason we are able to understand that two cre…m´Ç°ù±ðCan't remember what it said in the book but this theory is Plato not Aristotle

Plato had an idea that the reason we are able to understand that two creatures are both dogs, even though one is an Alsation and another is a chihuahua who look nothing like each other, is that above everything is a plane on which exists a Perfect Form. An archetypal version of that thing.

So somewhere there is a pattern of 'Dog' - and that's what we're all subconsciously comparing to when we look at a dog in the real world, and how we know it's a dog, because we know of the perfect form of 'dog' which exists somewhere.

He thought somewhere there was a template of perfect forms for everything.

In the book this comes up because Joe ponders if things are reverting to their template form. (less)
flag
This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Mon El They were Dead the Whole Time. That's how the book is built. To draw us into the world of UBIK, Yet hold us at arms length, with us begging to be even…m´Ç°ù±ðThey were Dead the Whole Time. That's how the book is built. To draw us into the world of UBIK, Yet hold us at arms length, with us begging to be even closer to the reality that is UBIK. KEEP READING.(less)
flag

Unanswered Questions (1)

About Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions