BATMAN AND PHILOSOPHY: The Dark Knight of the Soul

[BatmanWristband]

Attention, Batman heads!​

Put down your comics and graphic novels for a second and pick up the book "BATMAN AND PHILOSOPHY: The Dark Knight of the Soul" from the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series.​

Yes, a book with words and no pictures!​

BATMAN AND PHILOSOPHY explores how the Dark Knight grapples with ethical conundrums, moral responsibility, his identity crisis, the moral weight he carries to avenge his murdered parents, and much more. Learn how the Caped Crusader measures up against the teachings of Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Kierkegaard and Lao Tzu?​

As this book takes you through seventy years of comic books, television shows, and movies (including 'The Dark Knight') you'll find a renewed respect and pride for being an ardent fan of the greatest and most complex character ever to appear in pop culture! (Not to mention, reading it will make you smarter and you can impress your friends with your new deep philosophical wisdom.)​

Riddle me this:

- Why doesn't Batman just kill the Joker and end everyone's misery?​

- Can we hold the Joker morally responsible for his actions?​

- If everyone followed Batman's example, would Gotham be a better place?​

- Is Batman virtuous, or does he do virtuous things?​

- Can Batman be looked upon as a 'moral exemplar'?​

- Is Batman a Utilitarian or Deontologist? (Or neither?)​

- Is it right that he keeps picking up orphan boys and training them to fight crime at his side?​

- Does Batman come across as an authoriarian?​

Think you know the answers? BATMAN AND PHILOSOPHY tackles these questions and drops some serious knowledge.​

It's a good read. Check it out!​

 

[CLARKY]

Riddle me this:

- Why doesn't Batman just kill the Joker and end everyone's misery?​

- Can we hold the Joker morally responsible for his actions?​

- If everyone followed Batman's example, would Gotham be a better place?​

- Is Batman virtuous, or does he do virtuous things?​

- Can Batman be looked upon as a 'moral exemplar'?​

- Is Batman a Utilitarian or Deontologist? (Or neither?)​

- Is it right that he keeps picking up orphan boys and training them to fight crime at his side?​

- Does Batman come across as an authoriarian?​

Sorry man, but I hate this kind of "crap" I think the book is written by people who are in need of these interrogations more than anything.
It is comicbooks : I think some of the people thinking they could achieve something with cleverness should move their ass on something more useful than debating about the good of having an orphan trained for a war on crime. The character has been a vessel for different kind of messages since 60 years. things have change and the comicbook has capitalized on what was here, while bring in some new stuff too.
I think it is OK for geeks like us to debate on a message board, but write a book ?!?!?! I think we could use all this time and questions for things that are not working properly in the reality.
And for why Batman does not kill the Joker ? Because he is the number one villain with Lex Luthor and it would reduce the marketability of the character. there is a statu quo in the comics : if you want you, your son and so on ... to read the wonderful adventures of the bat-man vs the clown prince of Crime, he can not die. Or you bring him back later.
No offense, but I think it is as useless as distractive.

 

[tomstoyz2]

I've heard good things about this book & the reviews seem to be positive. Might have to check it out.

 

[Temple Fugate]

batman with no pictures? intriguing.

 

[Daredevil_2003]

Sorry man, but I hate this kind of "crap" I think the book is written by people who are in need of these interrogations more than anything.
It is comicbooks : I think some of the people thinking they could achieve something with cleverness should move their ass on something more useful than debating about the good of having an orphan trained for a war on crime. The character has been a vessel for different kind of messages since 60 years. things have change and the comicbook has capitalized on what was here, while bring in some new stuff too.
I think it is OK for geeks like us to debate on a message board, but write a book ?!?!?! I think we could use all this time and questions for things that are not working properly in the reality.
And for why Batman does not kill the Joker ? Because he is the number one villain with Lex Luthor and it would reduce the marketability of the character. there is a statu quo in the comics : if you want you, your son and so on ... to read the wonderful adventures of the bat-man vs the clown prince of Crime, he can not die. Or you bring him back later.
No offense, but I think it is as useless as distractive.

Jealous that they're getting paid to do what we do on message boards?

 

[BatmanEVH]

I have this book. In order to understand it, you need to have read a lot of Batman comics and all of the graphic novels to know what it's talking about.

A degree in philosophy would also make the book more pleasurable t:

*(not that I have a degree)

 

[MysterioMenace]

Looks fascinating. I'll pick this up for sure. Heck...I've probably written a few chapters myself. I tend to psychoanalyze Batman characters (Joker especially) rather often and write huge replies.

 

[SuperFerret]

I wonder why all these books are written about Batman. You always see these "psychology of Batman" type books, but rarely if ever about other characters. Where's the philosophy of Superman books? The Psychology of Spider-Man? Control Your Anger the Bruce Banner Way? I'm not complaining, but Batman doesn't hold the monopoly on psychologically and philosophically relevant superheroes, so why only him?

 

[MysterioMenace]

I wonder why all these books are written about Batman. You always see these "psychology of Batman" type books, but rarely if ever about other characters. Where's the philosophy of Superman books? The Psychology of Spider-Man? Control Your Anger the Bruce Banner Way? I'm not complaining, but Batman doesn't hold the monopoly on psychologically and philosophically relevant superheroes, so why only him?

Actually there is a general psychology of the superhero book I've got, though admitedly it does have the bat signal on the cover, but it covers many heroes and villains from both Marvel and DC. I bet you'd dig it. Def. check it out. I believe it's called just that, the psychology of the superhero.

Found it: http://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Superheroes-Unauthorized-Exploration-Popular/dp/1933771313

 

[SuperFerret]

Interesting.

 

[Crook]

Sorry man, but I hate this kind of "crap" I think the book is written by people who are in need of these interrogations more than anything.
It is comicbooks : I think some of the people thinking they could achieve something with cleverness should move their ass on something more useful than debating about the good of having an orphan trained for a war on crime. The character has been a vessel for different kind of messages since 60 years. things have change and the comicbook has capitalized on what was here, while bring in some new stuff too.
I think it is OK for geeks like us to debate on a message board, but write a book ?!?!?! I think we could use all this time and questions for things that are not working properly in the reality.
And for why Batman does not kill the Joker ? Because he is the number one villain with Lex Luthor and it would reduce the marketability of the character. there is a statu quo in the comics : if you want you, your son and so on ... to read the wonderful adventures of the bat-man vs the clown prince of Crime, he can not die. Or you bring him back later.
No offense, but I think it is as useless as distractive.

I agree. Let's not delve deep into the mythology and instead just skim on the surface like a layman.

I'm sorry, but this entire paragraph is bullcrap.

 

[Spidey0]

That first part about Batman not killing the Joker in the book was kind of repetitive. I haven't read the whole thing yet but some points are true, others I think beginners won't come to understand.

One more thing I want to say is that I don't like how they can say things so easily about Batman like it's just an objective topic. But I guess I'm finding it really interesting to hear their views.

 

[ross2287]

I came to this thread and then immediately ordered this book online. I'm a dork.

Actually there is a general psychology of the superhero book I've got, though admitedly it does have the bat signal on the cover, but it covers many heroes and villains from both Marvel and DC. I bet you'd dig it. Def. check it out. I believe it's called just that, the psychology of the superhero.

Found it: http://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Superheroes-Unauthorized-Exploration-Popular/dp/1933771313

You know, I'd love to see what they'd say about Superman since, according to one philosopher, Sissela Bok, any kind of lying is bad. The way I've interpreted it, Superman fights for truth, justice and the American Way but he has a secret identity. Since he lies about his identity, he's unethical and since he's unethical he can't fight for truth.

I've wanted to post this over in the Superman boards for a while, but that place scares me.

 

[Grommers]

Interesting, yeah those superman forums can be scary.


I don't think his reasoning behind hiding his identidy is to lie but to protect those around him.

 

[MysterioMenace]

I agree. Let's not delve deep into the mythology and instead just skim on the surface like a layman.

I'm sorry, but this entire paragraph is bullcrap.

Thank you! You took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

Sorry man, but I hate this kind of "crap" I think the book is written by people who are in need of these interrogations more than anything.
It is comicbooks : I think some of the people thinking they could achieve something with cleverness should move their ass on something more useful than debating about the good of having an orphan trained for a war on crime. The character has been a vessel for different kind of messages since 60 years. things have change and the comicbook has capitalized on what was here, while bring in some new stuff too.
I think it is OK for geeks like us to debate on a message board, but write a book ?!?!?! I think we could use all this time and questions for things that are not working properly in the reality.
And for why Batman does not kill the Joker ? Because he is the number one villain with Lex Luthor and it would reduce the marketability of the character. there is a statu quo in the comics : if you want you, your son and so on ... to read the wonderful adventures of the bat-man vs the clown prince of Crime, he can not die. Or you bring him back later.
No offense, but I think it is as useless as distractive.

Correct.

 

[MysterioMenace]

If you truly believe that analyzing Batman and his cast of characters has no practicality…quite bluntly…you’re stupid. As a child I learned almost entirely my code of ethics from superheroes. There’s much relevance. These characters are a springboard or vessel for learning psychology and other intellectual topics. It’s not so much about Batman or Joker so much as it’s about the mindsets and the applicability to the real world that this knowledge can give you. Professors use pop culture references all the time during lessons in order for it to be more understandable. The characters are just used to make it less boring. You just have to chose to see more. You cannot learn if you don't have a desire to learn. Plain and simple. Why deny that? Why wouldn't you want more then just mindless entertainment? That’s nothing but dim-witted.

 

[Daredevil_2003]

 

[ross2287]

I don't think his reasoning behind hiding his identidy is to lie but to protect those around him.

Yeah, obviously but Bok believes that lying for ANY kind of reason is unethical.

I think that's what makes it an interesting argument.

 

[Batmania]

I wonder why all these books are written about Batman. You always see these "psychology of Batman" type books, but rarely if ever about other characters. Where's the philosophy of Superman books? The Psychology of Spider-Man? Control Your Anger the Bruce Banner Way? I'm not complaining, but Batman doesn't hold the monopoly on psychologically and philosophically relevant superheroes, so why only him?

One of these philosophy books has been written about Watchmen too:

http://www.amazon.com/Watchmen-Phil...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237601100&sr=8-1

 

[ross2287]

So this book just came in the mail. I'm not going to have time to read it any time soon but I'm looking forward to it.

 

[metalhead_dave]

Yeah I have this book. Couldn't get through the whole thing, but what I read was pretty fun.

And people say Batman isn't an interesting character because?

 

[greedyslayer]

Hey, there's a thread for this! Good book. I think this kind of "pop culture & philosophy" works are great ways to get people interested in philosophy itself.

 

[randyf]

I love books on our comic books. Thought I'd mention Batman Unmasked: Analyzing a Cultural Icon (2000). Warning and/or highlight: a fourth of the book deals with the homosexuality angle.