Batman, Superman, and philosophy : badass or boyscout? / edited by Nicolas Michaud.

Format
Book
Language
English
Published/​Created
Chicago : Open Court, [2016]
Description
x, 289 pages ; 23 cm

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Firestone Library - Stacks PN1995.9.S76 B38 2016 Browse related items Request

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    Summary note
    "Batman or Superman? Which of these heroic figures is morally superior? Which is more dramatically effective? Which is more democratic? Which shows us the better way to fight crime? In Batman, Superman, and Philosophy, 26 philosophers evaluate Superman vs. Batman in order to decide which of them "wins" by various criteria. Since both Batman, the megalomaniacal industrialist, and Superman, the darling of the media, sometimes operate outside the law, which of them makes the better vigilante -- and how do they compare with Robin Hood, the anonymous donor, the Ninja, and the KKK? Which of them comes out better in terms of evolutionary biology? Which of the heroes works more effectively to resist oppression? Which one is better for the environment? Which of these two makes a better model and inspiring myth to define our culture and society? Is Batman or Superman the more admirable person? Who conforms more closely to Nietzsche's Übermensch? Who makes the better god? Who is more self-sacrificing? Whose explicit code of morality is superior? Which superhero gives us more satisfying dramatic conflict? And why does a battle between the two make such a compelling drama?"-- Provided by publisher.
    Bibliographic references
    Includes bibliographical references (pages 275-277) and index.
    Contents
    • It's about damn time
    • Pre-fight warm-up : battle of the billennium. Where have all the supermen gone? / A.G. Holdier
    • Round one : decision
    • Superman! The son shines bright. Sure we're criminals / Daniel Malloy
    • Darwin in Metropolis / Ben Springett
    • A cape and a code / Scott Farrell
    • How heroes argue / Tim LaBauve
    • Round two : decision
    • Batman! More human than a superman. The god we need now / Christopher Ketcham
    • How Batman cowed a god / Patrick J. Reider
    • Saints and superheroes / Daniel Malloy
    • Masks, hearts, and superheroes / Marvie Lee Dupree and Mirela Fuš
    • Gods are overrated / Nicolas Michaud
    • Round three : decision
    • Superman! The best man for tomorrow. Of bats and supermen / Ben Springett
    • Vigilante wanted / Christopher Ketcham
    • Time to close / Nathaniel Goldberg and Chris Gavaler
    • Who watches the Justice League? / Jacob Thomas May
    • Infinite environmental crisis / Craig Van Pelt
    • You made me first / Nicolas Michaud
    • Round four : decision
    • Batman! It's always darkest before the knight. Batman's mask in Aristotle's drama / Ray Bossert
    • Superman the super dick / Noah Levin
    • Overpower versus empowerment / Sébastien Hock-Koon
    • What it takes / Trip McCrossin
    • Batman is Superman / Suzie Gibson
    • Post-fight analysis : superhero truthers speak out! Unmasking the world and its heroes / Matthew Tabizon and Erik Jackiw
    • I fight crime in my sleep / Mary Green and Ronald S. Green
    • The fifty-third card / Jack Napier.
    ISBN
    • 9780812699180 ((trade paper ; : alk. paper))
    • 0812699181 ((trade paper ; : alk. paper))
    LCCN
    2016935516
    OCLC
    953001078
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