Superheroes E-Book

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Serie: The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 226

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Explore the philosophical depths of Batman, Superman, CaptainAmerica, and your other favorite superheroes--FOR FREE! Behind the cool costumes, special powers, and unflaggingdetermination to fight evil you'll find fascinatingphilosophical questions and concerns deep in the hearts and mindsof your favorite comic book heroes. Why doesn't Batman just kill the Joker and end everyone'smisery? Does Peter Parker have a good life? What can Iron Man teachus about the role of technology in society? Bringing together keychapters from books in the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Cultureseries, this free superhero sampler engages the intellectual mightof big thinkers like Aristotle and Kant to answer these questionsand many others, giving you new insights on everything from whetherSuperman is truly an American icon to whether Wolverine is the sameperson when he loses his memory. * Features exclusive bonus content: all-new chapters on CaptainAmerica and Thor * Gives you a sneak peek at upcoming books: Avengers andPhilosophy, Spider-Man and Philosophy, and Superman andPhilosophy * Includes superheroes from both the DC and Marvel universes: theAvengers, Batman, Captain America, Green Lantern, Iron Man,Spider-Man, Superman, Thor, Watchmen, and the X-Men * Gives you a perfect introduction to the Blackwell Philosophyand Pop Culture series (learn more at www.andphilosophy.com) FORFREE! Whether you're looking for answers or looking for fun, thisclassic compilation will save the day by helping you gain a deeperappreciation of your favorite comics with an introduction to basicphilosophical principles.

Leseprobe

Contents

About the Book

Introduction: Taking Superheroes Seriously

Part One: Superheroes Exclusive

Chapter 1: Lord Odin Have Mercy: Justice and Punishment in Asgard

Odin of Asgard, Meet Anselm of Canterbury

Aristotle vs. Seidring the Merciless

Well Met, Seneca

Mercy, Mercy Me

Oh, Balder, We Hardly Knew Ye . . .

Verily, the Vizier Gets the Vinal Final Word

Chapter 2: Captain America and the Virtue of Modesty

I’m Modest—Isn’t That Great?

Modesty Isn’t Just About You, You Know

The Egalitarians Have Landed

If Batroc Knows One Philosophe, It Would Be . . .

Kant We Do Better, Though?

Tales of Modesty

Part Two: DC Superheroes

Chapter 3: Is Superman an American Icon?

Is Superman Giving Up on the American Way?

My Country, Right or Wrong—But Mostly Right

Can Superman Be a Citizen of the World?

Cosmopolitanism Then and Now

The Appearance of Impropriety

Act Locally, Think Globally

Chapter 4: The Blackest Night for Aristotle’s Account of Emotions

Color-Coded Morality

Finding the Perfect Mean: A Job for Golden Lanterns?

The Rainbow of Emotions and the Prism of the Will

John Stuart Mill’s Green Approach to Emotion and Reason

Triumph of the Will

Chapter 5: Why Doesn’t Batman Kill the Joker?

Meet the Joker

Is Batman a Utilitarian or Deontologist? (Or None of the Above?)

To the Bat-Trolley, Professor Thomson!

Hush Will Love This Next Story . . .

Top Ten Reasons the Batmobile Is Not a Trolley . . .

“I Want My Lawyer! Oh, That’s Right, I Killed Him Too”

So, Case Closed—Right?

Chapter 6: Can We Steer This Rudderless World?: Kant, Rorschach, Retributivism, and Honor

Evil Must Be Punished: Retributivism, Basically

Kant and Rorschach on Respect and Dignity

Order and Value in a Morally Blank World

Honor Is Like the Hawk . . .

This Last Entry

Part Three: Marvel Superheroes

Chapter 7: Forgivers Assemble!

Time Travel, Retcons, and Forgiveness

Can Cap Forgive the Rest of His Kooky Quartet?

Who Will Forgive the Mutants?

Forgive Me!

Forgiveness in the House of M

The Paradox of Forgiveness

Avengers, Forgive!

Chapter 8: Does Peter Parker Have a Good Life?

Paul Kurtz: A Life of Pleasure and Care for Others

Ayn Rand: Life and Integrity

Epictetus: Self-Control, Duty, and Knowledge of the World

Viktor Frankl: Meaning and Sacrifice

Thomas Aquinas: God and Virtue

What Next?

Chapter 9: The Stark Madness of Technology

“A Heart of Gold and an Appearance to Match”

“Masters of Nature”

It’s Not All in the Hardware

The Heroism of Generosity

“The Body Is Wrong”

“How Many Have Drawn Blood with My Sword?”

Jet Boots and Clay Feet

Chapter 10: Amnesia, Personal Identity, and the Many Lives of Wolverine

What Is Personal Identity?

Cassandra Nova, Charles Xavier, and John Locke

Bringing It All Back to Wolverine

Jamie Madrox and Derek Parfit

Bringing It All Back to Wolverine (Again)

Be Slow to Judge

Part Four: About the Series

New!

Green Lantern and Philosophy: No Evil Shall Escape This Book

Also Available!

Iron Man and Philosophy: Facing the Stark Reality

The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series

The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series

Series Editor: William Irwin

South Park and Philosophy

Edited by Robert Arp

Metallica and Philosophy

Edited by William Irwin

Family Guy and Philosophy

Edited by J. Jeremy Wisnewski

The Daily Show and Philosophy

Edited by Jason Holt

Lost and Philosophy

Edited by Sharon Kaye

24 and Philosophy

Edited by Jennifer Hart Weed, Richard Davis, and Ronald Weed

Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy

Edited by Jason T. Eberl

The Office and Philosophy

Edited by J. Jeremy Wisnewski

Batman and Philosophy

Edited by Mark D. White and Robert Arp

House and Philosophy

Edited by Henry Jacoby

Watchmen and Philosophy

Edited by Mark D. White

X-Men and Philosophy

Edited by Rebecca Housel and J. Jeremy Wisnewski

Terminator and Philosophy

Edited by Richard Brown and Kevin Decker

Heroes and Philosophy

Edited by David Kyle Johnson

Twilight and Philosophy

Edited by Rebecca Housel and J. Jeremy Wisnewski

Final Fantasy and Philosophy

Edited by Jason P. Blahuta and Michel S. Beaulieu

Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy

Edited by Richard Brian Davis

Iron Man and Philosophy

Edited by Mark D. White

True Blood and Philosophy

Edited by George Dunn and Rebecca Housel

Mad Men and Philosophy

Edited by James South and Rod Carveth

30 Rock and Philosophy

Edited by J. Jeremy Wisnewski

The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy

Edited by Gregory Bassham

The Ultimate Lost and Philosophy

Edited by Sharon Kaye

Green Lantern and Philosophy

Edited by Jane Dryden and Mark D. White

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Philosophy

Edited by Eric Bronson

Arrested Development and Philosophy

Edited by Kristopher Phillips and J. Jeremy Wisnewski

Copyright © 2011 by John Wiley and Sons. All rights reserved

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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ISBN 978-1-118-15347-5 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-15348-2 (ebk)

About the Book

This is a compilation of some of our best superhero essays in the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series with a preview of some of our forthcoming books and two essays that are exclusive to this sampler.

Part One: Superheroes Exclusives

1. Lord Odin Have Mercy: Justice and Punishment in Asgard

Mark D. White

2. Captain America and the Virtue of Modesty

Mark D. White

Part Two: DC Superheroes

3. Is Superman an American Icon?

Andrew Terjesen

From Superman and Philosophy, edited by Mark D. White

4. The Blackest Night for Aristotle’s Account of Emotions

Jason Southworth

From Green Lantern and Philosophy, edited by Jane Dryden and Mark D. White

5. Why Doesn’t Batman Kill the Joker?

Mark D. White

From Batman and Philosophy, edited by Mark D. White and Robert Arp

6. Can We Steer This Rudderless World?: Kant, Rorschach, Retributivism, and Honor

Jacob M. Held

From Watchmen and Philosophy, edited by Mark D. White

Part Three: Marvel Superheroes

7. Forgivers Assemble!

Daniel P. Malloy

From Avengers and Philosophy, edited by Mark D. White

8. Does Peter Parker Have a Good Life?

Neil Mussett

From Spider-Man and Philosophy, edited by Jonathan J. Sanford

9. The Stark Madness of Technology

George A. Dunn

From Iron Man and Philosophy, edited by Mark D. White

10. Amnesia, Personal Identity, and the Many Lives of Wolverine

Jason Southworth

From X-Men and Philosophy, edited by Rebecca Housel and J. Jeremy Wisnewski

Introduction

Taking Superheroes Seriously

William Irwin

Philosophy can change your life, but it may take a superhero for you to realize it. Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, and company don’t just entertain us; they prompt us to think. I mean, why doesn’t Batman just kill the Joker and be done with it? Sure, that would be bad for future comic book sales, but, as we’ll see in this book, the Dark Knight has his philosophical reasons, too.

Philosophers specialize in theory, but people tend to learn better when something unfamiliar, such as philosophy, is explained in terms of something familiar, such as television, movies, comic books, music, or videogames. The philosophers of old understood this and came up with their own memorable examples to illustrate their theories, from Plato’s (428–348 BCE) allegory of the cave to Descartes’ (1596–1650) evil deceiver and beyond. In this book, we continue that long tradition by using examples from the realm of superheroes.

Why? Because superheroes are complex characters and have become the mythology of our time (literally, in the case of Thor!). Like the gods, superheroes tend to have basic origin stories and character traits, which set the stage for a limitless number and variety of tales. And like the gods of mythology, superheroes are not perfect; they are not like the all-loving, all-good, all-powerful God of Western religion. Still, our flawed heroes can act as moral exemplars. For those not inclined to ask W.W.J.D.?, it can make sense to ask W.W.C.A.D.? What would Captain America do?

Some people might worry that we can’t learn anything from superheroes since they’re just make-believe, but, like the ancient myths, tales of superheroes don’t need to be true or realistic to be inspiring. You don’t need to have been bitten by a radioactive spider to realize that with great power comes great responsibility. Heck, you don’t even need to have great power to learn and appreciate that lesson—kids and grown-ups alike have gotten that lesson from Spidey for decades.

Ultimately, this book aims to shed light on the hidden depth of superheroes, while at same time illustrate the importance of philosophy. Superman and Batman are not replacements for Plato and Aristotle, but they can inspire you to read Plato and Aristotle, who will challenge you to think deeply. This looks like a job for Superman, or at least Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture. From there, the rest is up to you!

Part One

Superheroes Exclusive