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

Description

The comic book superheroes-Superman, Batman, the Incredible Hulk, the Fantastic Four, X-Men, and the others-have proved to be a powerful and enduring thread in popular culture, a rich source of ideas for movie-makers, novelists, and philosophers. Superheroes and Philosophy brings together sixteen leading philosophers and some of the most creative people in the world of comics: story-writers, editors, and critics. The book also features original artwork specially commissioned from some of the most popular comic-book artists. The comic-book narratives of superheroes wrestle with profound and disturbing issues in original ways: the definitions of good and evil, the limits of violence as an efficacious means, the perils of enforcing justice outside the law, the metaphysics of personal identity, and the definition of humanity.

"Superman's costume always bugged me when I was a kid... So you need a secret identity -- cool. But what's the deal with all the rainbow-hued Spandex masks and costumes?... I found the answer to this great metaphysical dilemma in the book Superheroes and Philosophy, edited by Tom Morris and Matt Morris. In various essays, college philosophy professors and others ruminate on profound issues raised by the superhero lifestyle, such as how Batgirl reflects Nietzsche's moral perfectionism." -- Rick de Yampert, Daytona Beach News-Journal, December 15, 2006