Superheroes and Philosophy Truth, Justice, and the Socratic Way,9780812695731

Superheroes and Philosophy Truth, Justice, and the Socratic Way

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ISBN13: 9780812695731
ISBN10: 0812695739
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2005-04-20
Publisher(s): Open Court
List Price: $29.95

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Summary

The comic book naratives of superheroes wrestle with profound and disturbing issues in original ways: the definitions of good and evil, the limits of violence as an effective means, the perils of enforcing justice outside the law, the metaphysics of personal identity, and the definition of humanity.
Superheroes and Philosophy tackles these and other philosophical questions in an intellectual yet engaging way suitable for any comic book fan.

Table of Contents

Men in Bright Tights and Wild Fights, Often at Great Heights, and, of Course, Some Amazing Women, Too! ix
Part One The Image of the Superhero 1(42)
1. The Real Truth about Superman: And the Rest of Us, Too
MARK WAID
3(8)
2. Heroes and Superheroes
JEPH LOEB and TOM MORRIS
11(10)
3. The Crimson Viper versus the Maniacal Morphing Meme
DENNIS O'NEIL
21(8)
4. Superhero Revisionism in Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns
AEON J. SKOBLE
29(14)
Part Two The Existential World of the Superhero 43(102)
5. God, the Devil, and Matt Murdock
TOM MORRIS
45(17)
6. The Power and the Glory
CHARLES TALIAFERRO and CRAIG LINDAHL-URBEN
62(13)
7. Myth, Morality, and the Women of the X-Men
REBECCA HOUSEL
75(14)
8. Barbara Gordon and Moral Perfectionism
JAMES B. SOUTH
89(13)
9. Batman and Friends: Aristotle and The Dark Knight's Inner Circle
MATT MORRIS
102(16)
10. The Fantastic Four as a Family: The Strongest Bond of All
CHRIS RYALL and SCOTT TIPTON
118(12)
11. Comic-Book Wisdom
MICHAEL THAU
130(15)
Part Three Superheroes and Moral Duty 145(76)
12. Why Are Superheroes Good? Comics and the Ring of Gyges
JEFF BRENZEL
147(14)
13. Why Should Superheroes Be Good? Spider-Man, the X-Men, and Kierkegaard's Double Danger
C. STEPHEN EVANS
161(16)
14. With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: On the Moral Duties of the Super-Powerful and Super-Heroic
CHRISTOPHER ROBICHAUD
177(17)
15. Why Be a Superhero? Why Be Moral?
C. STEPHEN LAYMAN
194(13)
16. Superman and Kingdom Come: The Surprise of Philosophical Theology
FELIX TALLON and JERRY WALLS
207(14)
Part Four Identity and Superhero Metaphysics 221(46)
17. Questions of Identity: Is the Hulk the Same Person as Bruce Banner?
KEVIN KINGHORN
223(14)
18. Identity Crisis: Time Travel and Metaphysics in the DC Multiverse
RICHARD HANLEY
237(13)
19. What's Behind the Mask? The Secret of Secret Identities
TOM MORRIS
250(17)
Wow! It Could Be the Greatest Gathering of Minds in Comic-Book History! Hold on to Your Hats and Get Ready for the Bios of Your Life! 267(8)
Index 275

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