The Avengers and Philosophy E-Book

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

Seitenzahl: 344

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

An engaging look at the philosophical underpinnings of Earth's Mightiest Heroes Avengers assemble! Tackling intriguing dilemmas and issues that no single great philosopher can withstand, this powerful book enlists the brainpower of an A-list team of history's most prominent thinkers to explore the themes behind the action of Marvel Comics' all-star superhero team. * Arms you with new insights into the characters and themes of The Avengers * Deepens your appreciation both of The Avengers comics and the Joss Whedon movie adaptation * Answers the philosophical questions you've always had about Earth's Mightiest Heroes, including: Can a reformed criminal become a superhero? Can an android love a human? If a hero beats his wife, is he still a hero? * Helps you think differently about the members of the superhero team--Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and the others This thought-provoking book will help you understand this band of superheroes better, whether you've followed the Avengers for years or are a Joss Whedon fan just getting to know them.

Leseprobe

CONTENTS

Introduction: Earth’s Mightiest Philosophers

Part One: What Would an Avenger Do?

Chapter 1: Superhuman Ethics Class with the Avengers Prime

The Utilitarian Iron Man

Captain America: Duty above all Else

Convicted Heroes

Verily, a Fine Segue!

Ethicists Assemble!

Chapter 2: Shining the Light on the Dark Avengers

Plato and the Ancient Greek Avengers

Does Might Make Right?

Are the Dark Avengers Evil or Simply Bold?

No One Needs to Know

Being Just

Just How Dark are the Dark Avengers?

Chapter 3: The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Family

Of Father and Ultron

Sometimes the Apples Do Fall Far from the Tree

Journey to the Center of the Ant

The Ties that Bind

The Torch is Passed

Sins of the Father?

Let there be an Ending!

Part Two: Who is an Avenger?

Chapter 4: Superhero Identity: Case Studies in the Avengers

It’s all about Bodies, Right?

I like you for your Mind, Honest

Unmasking the Mantle Theory of Superhero Identity

Case Study 1: The Supersoldier

Case Study 2: Pym Particles

Are you the Next Goliath?

Chapter 5: I am Made of Ink: She-Hulk and Metacomics

What is a Metacomic?

Your Cover is Blown, Jen

“There’s a Reader Out There Now!”

Gutter-Hoppin’ and More Amazing Stories

Don’t Make the She-Hulk Angry . . .

What are the She-Hulk’s Powers?

Maybe Jen’s Reading this Chapter Right Now

Chapter 6: The Self-Corruption of Norman Osborn: A Cautionary Tale

Osborn’s Oratory and the Dark Reign

The Split Osborn Identity

Wag the Goblin

Hoist by his Own Petard

Part Three: Should the Avengers Do More Than Avenge?

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: Gods, Beasts, and Political Animals: Why the Avengers Assemble

Assembling for Necessity or Perfection?

Elementary Greek Lessons (Approved by the Comics Code)

Ms.-Sing her Friends

Getting her Arête Together

The Original Irredeemable Ant-Man

Neither Gods nor Beasts But Political Animals

Chapter 9: Cap’s Kooky Quartet: Is Rehabilitation Possible?

Can an Archer Change his Trick Arrows?

Finding a Balance with Hawkeye

Maybe it Really is in the Blood

Old Dogs and New Tricks

Avenging or Saving?

Hope for the Future?

Avengers Rehabilitate!

Part Four: Do the Avengers Ever Go Too Far?

Chapter 10: Fighting the Good Fight: Military Ethics and the Kree-Skrull War

Entry Point to the Kree-Skrull War

There’s an Intergalactic War Going on and You’re Invited

Was Ronan in the Right?

Those Sneaky Skrulls

Tortured Logic

And the war Rages on

Chapter 11: Secrets and Lies: Compromising the Avengers’ Values for the Good of the World

Figuring out the Rules

Occulting the Truth

Sorcerer Supreme Emergency

Shhhhh—Avengers Assemble (in Secret)!

Being Wikileaked On

“This is the Kind of Thing that is Going to Bite US in the Butt”

Chapter 12: The Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Problem with Proactive Superheroics

The Ultimates, the Avengers, and Nick Fury’s S.H.I.E.L.D.

Red and Gold Helicarriers?

I Didn’t Mean it, Honest

This Changes Everything (Until it Changes Back)

But I Want to Help!

Captain America’s mighty S.H.I.E.L.D. . . . Well, Sort Of

Part Five: What Kind of World do the Avengers Live In?

Chapter 13: Can Kang Kill his Past Self? The Paradox of Time Travel

The Science of Bending Time

Breaking Time

Building a Time Machine

Closed Timelike Kang

Time to End

Chapter 14: “No Other Gods Before Me”: God, Ontology, and Ethics in the Avengers’ Universe

God, the One-Who-Is-Above-All—or “Stan,” For Short

“Gods are a Bit Different”

Ontology Comics #1

Does Godliness Imply Goodness?

Equal Opportunity—for Deities?

Chapter 15: Love Avengers Style: Can an Android Love a Human?

What is Love, Anyway?

Friends, Lovers, and Significant Others

Unreciprocated Love

“No Sister of Mine May Become Involved with a—a—a Robot!”

Love: American Style

Chapter 16: The Way of the Arrow: Hawkeye Meets the Taoist Masters

Don’t Try So Hard, Clint

When is a Butcher Like an Archer?

Hawkeye, Humble?

The Life and Death of a Hero

The Way of the Archer

Appendix: Why are there Four Volumes of Avengers?

Contributors: Avengers Academy

Index: From Jarvis’s Secret Files

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

Inception and Philosophy

Edited by David Johnson

The Big Lebowski and Philosophy

Edited by Peter S. Fosl

Spider-Man and Philosophy

Edited by Jonathan Sanford

The Big Bang Theory and Philosophy

Edited by Dean Kowalski

The Hunger Games and Philosophy

Edited by George Dunn and Nicolas Michaud

Game of Thrones and Philosophy

Edited by Henry Jacoby

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved

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

Published simultaneously in Canada

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The Avengers and philosophy : Earth’s mightiest thinkers / edited by Mark D. White.

pages cm. — (The Blackwell philosophy and pop culture series; 46)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-118-07457-2 (paper); ISBN 978-1-118-22253-9 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-23645-1 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-26138-5 (ebk)

1. Avengers (Fictitious characters) 2. Comic books, strips, etc.—Moral and ethical aspects. 3. Superheroes in literature. 4. Superhero films—History and criticism. 5. Philosophy in literature. 6. Philosophy in motion pictures. I. White, Mark D., 1971- editor of compilation.

PN6728.A9A93 2012

791.43’652—dc23

2011043329

INTRODUCTION: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST PHILOSOPHERS

If you like superheroes—and you wouldn’t be reading this book if you didn’t—you love superhero teams, and the Avengers are the preeminent team in the Marvel Universe. The best thing about the Avengers is that not only do you get to see all your favorite heroes banding together to defeat formidable threats against incredible odds, but you also get to see them interact both as superheroes and as people. Whether they’re cooped up in Avengers Mansion or exploring the deepest realms of space, you get to see how they work together and play together, both when they get along and when they don’t. That’s what we love about the Avengers, whether in the comics, the animated series, or the feature film—it’s equal parts superhero epic and soap opera.

Just as the Avengers assemble to confront threats no single hero can handle himself or herself, the contributors to The Avengers and Philosophy assembled to discuss a range of topics so broad that no single philosopher could possibly handle it all. Have you ever wondered how the “big three” Avengers—Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor—compare in terms of their moral philosophies? Has the Kree-Skrull War ever made you consider the ethics of war itself? What about the Avengers’ peculiar tendency to welcome former criminals into their ranks, such as Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch? We didn’t forget to ask questions about the great Avengers villains: Can Kang actually go back in time to kill himself? Do we actually admire Norman Osborn and his Dark Avengers? And finally, speaking of soap opera, can the Scarlet Witch and the Vision truly love each other?

No matter what Avengers lineup you prefer, or which Avenger is your favorite, there’s a chapter in The Avengers and Philosophy for you. (Why no Squirrel Girl, you ask? Wait for volume two—it’s all her.) So until Avengers Academy opens a branch near you, this book is the best way to learn from Earth’s Mightiest Philosophers—until we get our own movie, that is!

I would like to thank Bill Irwin for his constant support, encouragement, and hard work on this book and the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series as a whole; Connie Santisteban at Wiley, who saw this book through from beginning to end; and my fellow contributors, who came through with insights into philosophy and the Avengers I would never have imagined. I also want to give special thanks to Christine Hanefalk, who was incredibly supportive, especially in the stressful final weeks of this project. Finally, I would like to thank all the creators who have made the Avengers shine for half a century, starting with Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, through Kurt Busiek and George Pérez, and all the way up to Brian Michael Bendis, and Joss Whedon for bringing Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to life on the silver screen.

PART ONE

WHAT WOULD AN AVENGER DO?

Chapter 1

SUPERHUMAN ETHICS CLASS WITH THE AVENGERS PRIME

Mark D. White

At Avengers Academy, where veterans like Hank Pym and Tigra teach younger heroes in the ways of Avengerdom, one of the required courses is Superhuman Ethics Class. In this class, superpupils are presented with ethical dilemmas that crop up in the day-to-day “routine” of an Avenger, and then they are asked how they would handle them and why. We may recoil at the thought of Hank Pym teaching this class—the poster child for “Do what I say, not as I’ve done myself time and time again”—but such a class is essential to teach young heroes how to exercise the great responsibility that comes with great power.1

If you ask me, the most obvious teachers for Superhuman Ethics Class would be Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor, who were christened the “Avengers Prime” in a recent miniseries.2 I’m not claiming that these three are necessarily the most ethical Avengers, but they do serve as examples of the three most popular systems of ethics: utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. While each of these three classic heroes exemplifies his particular moral compass in his solo adventures, it is through their interactions—especially their conflicts—within the Avengers that they best illustrate their different ethical approaches. Let’s start with Iron Man because his ethical framework is in many ways the simplest, and also because he sets the stage for introducing the other two in contrast.