Aristotle. Socrates. Homer?
While you would not count The Simpsons' lovable patriarch among the great philosophers, one university thinks he has something to offer.
The University of Glasgow has announced a new course, fittingly titled 'D'oh! The Simpsons Introduce Philosophy', which aims to use the show to explore deeper philosophical principles.
John Donaldson, who is a philosophy tutor at the university, explained (via Mail Online): "Matt Groening, the man behind The Simpsons, was a student of philosophy, and that comes through in each episode.
"The Simpsons is a very sophisticated work of popular culture, with a broad scope and depth, and is full of philosophical themes.
"Very pleasingly, the course has proved to be incredibly popular on social media. It has gone viral. We've never really had a response like this before."
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Most notable is the comparison between Homer and Aristotle's concept of the virtuous character, with Donaldson describing the Simpsons' patriarch as "complex".
"Homer definitely has some moral failings. He's gluttonous, he struggles to tell the truth and can be quite violent, however there's a lot to be said in his defence.
"He is a faithful husband, a family man who is open-hearted and, in his own way, good-natured."
The course is running on January 14 and 21, costs £30 and is open to all - and to be honest, we want to sign up in a heartbeat.
Here are some famous Homer-isms:
Homer on alcohol:
"Beer. Now there's a temporary solution."
"When will I learn? The answer to life's problems aren't at the bottom of a bottle, they're on TV!"
Homer on working:
"If you don't like your job, you don't strike: you just go in every day and do it really half-assed."
"You tried your best and failed miserably. The lesson is: never try."
Homer on the Internet:
"The information superhighway showed the average person what some nerd thinks about Star Trek."
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
