067 Is Batman really a superhero? Mark D. White

Mark D. White is Chair and Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the College of Staten Island/CUNY, where he teaches courses in philosophy, economics, and law. He is also a member of the economics faculty at the Graduate Center of CUNY.

Batman has been one of the world’s most beloved superheroes since his first appearance in Detective Comics #27 in 1939. Clad in his dark cowl and cape, he has captured the imagination of millions with his single-minded mission to create a better world for the people of Gotham City by fighting crime, making use of expert detective skills, high-tech crime-fighting gadgets, and an extensive network of sidekicks and partners. But why has this self-made hero enjoyed such enduring popularity? And why are his choices so often the subject of intense debate among his fans and philosophers alike?

Batman and Ethics goes behind the mask to shed new light on the complexities and contradictions of the Dark Knight’s moral code. From the logic behind his aversion to killing to the moral status of vigilantism and his use of torture in pursuit of justice (or perhaps revenge), Batman’s ethical precepts are compelling but often inconsistent and controversial.

Philosopher and pop culture expert Mark D. White uses the tools of moral philosophy to track Batman’s most striking ethical dilemmas and decisions across his most prominent storylines from the early 1970s through the launch of the New 52, and suggests how understanding the mercurial moral character of the caped crusader might help us reconcile our own.

My immediate reaction to picking up Batman and Ethics is that is was not what I was expecting from a mass-market book. It is longer, heavier, more intellectual than I thought it would be.

I can personally approach it from several angles, as a long term fan of Batman. I can see that this would provide a framework for engaging students who might nod off reading straight philosophy or moral dilemmas also, as a teaching device, it is very clever.

This book provides an easy and entertaining entry to moral development for people who might not be as willing to read straight philosophy.

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