Batman and Philosophy: The Dark Knight of the Soul [Paperback]

Mark D. White (Editor), Robert Arp (Editor), William Irwin (Series Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0470270306 | ISBN-13: 978-0470270301 | Edition: 1

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

Can we hold the Joker morally responsible for his actions?

Is Batman better than Superman?

If everyone followed Batman's example,

would Gotham be a better place?

What is the Tao of the Bat?

Batman is one of the most complex characters ever to appear in comic books, graphic novels, and on the big screen. What philosophical trials does this superhero confront in order to keep Gotham safe? Combing through seventy years of comic books, television shows, and movies, 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. How does this caped crusader measure up against the teachings of Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Kierkegaard, and Lao Tzu?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this, the latest in Wiley's Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series (South Park and Philosophy, The Office and..., Metallica and...), editors White and Arp assert upfront, and without qualification (apparently, that's the contributors' job), their belief that Batman is "the most complex character ever to appear in comic books and graphic novels." Exploring certain works that have broadened the philosophical undercurrents of the Batman mythos (Frank Miller's Batman: Year One and The Dark Knight Returns are cited often, but rarely the new movies), a raft of professors, students and PhD candidates paint Bruce Wayne's choices as, most often, either utilitarian or deontological, with basic descriptions of these systems helpfully provided for the novice. A few contributions broaden the discussion beyond the well-worn (origin stories of Batman and foes, etc.); casting butler Alfred as Kierkegaard's "knight of faith" to Batman's "knight of infinite resignation," contributor Christopher M. Drohan actually gets close to the archetypal sources that keep the serialized exploits of Batman and other comic heroes from getting stale. Unfortunately, most of these essays get old fast.
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Review

In this, the latest in Wiley’s Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series (South Park and Philosophy, The Office and…, Metallica and…), editors White and Arp assert upfront, and without qualification (apparently, that’s the contributors’ job), their belief that Batman is “the most complex character ever to appear in comic books and graphic novels.” Exploring certain works that have broadened the philosophical undercurrents of the Batman mythos (Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One and The Dark Knight Returns are cited often, but rarely the new movies), a raft of professors, students and PhD candidates paint Bruce Wayne’s choices as, most often, either utilitarian or deontological, with basic descriptions of these systems helpfully provided for the novice. A few contributions broaden the discussion beyond the well-worn (origin stories of Batman and foes, etc.); casting butler Alfred as Kierkegaard’s “knight of faith” to Batman’s “knight of infinite resignation,” contributor Christopher M. Drohan actually gets close to the archetypal sources that keep the serialized exploits of Batman and other comic heroes from getting stale. Unfortunately, most of these essays get old fast. (July) (Publishers Weekly, July 28, 2008)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (June 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470270306
• ISBN-13: 978-0470270301
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Is it virtuous to be Batman? WWBD. And What of Robin? July 24, 2008

By Larry Mark

Format:Paperback

The editors and authors of this book have loved Batman since he is human and without super powers; he is so complex, he can be used as a vehicle or ploy to discuss philosophical concepts. I know little of formal philosophy, but this book was a good introduction to so many concepts, and quite intellectually funny at the same time. There are Six Parts in this book. Part One: Does The Dark Knight Always Do Right?; Part Two: Law Justice and the Social Order; Where Does Batman Fit In?; Part Three: Origins and Ethics: Why Become The Caped Crusader; Part Four: Who Is The Batman?; Part Five: Being The Bat: Insights from Existentialism and Taoism; and Part Six: Friend, Father.. Rival?: The Many Roles of The Bat.

Of course, much of this book was above my head and bat ears. But the parts I thoroughly enjoyed were quite informative. For example, in the first chapter, the author asks whether Batman is a Utilitarian or a Deontologist? Why doesn't Batman just kill the Joker, if he knows that he will merely kill again and kill close friends? Is the death of one Joker better than hundreds of innocent victims? The authors tell the story of a runaway trolley and a person who stands at the switch. The train can hit and kill five bystanders if you do nothing, or you can divert the track and the train will kill just one person. Can you get involved and kill fewer people? Are those parties deemed morally equivalent? Deontologists judge the morality of an act, regardless of the consequences (the ends do not justify the means). The second chapter looks at Ethics, in "Is it Right to Make a Robin?" "What should Bruce Wayne? How should he Live his life? What sort of person should he be?...... Is it right (ethical) for Batman to take an orphan and train him to fight crime instead of turning him into social services? Can we excuse Batman for throwing a young man at vicious criminals in a spandex outfit? In this chapter, the reader learns about Kant, Mill, Bentham, Plato, and deon(duty)tological ethics, virtue ethics, universal ethics, and categorical (without exception) ethics. (Can Batman lie to the Joker? Can he choose to be ethical only some of the time?) In Chapter 3, the author looks at Aristotle and virtue ethics and Batman's hatred as a virtue. Batman, a loner, makes a virtue of vice, perhaps. The author asks whether Batman is virtuous or does he merely DO virtuous things?

In "Governing Gotham" the authors look at Batman as a reaction to the failure and incapacity of the government to control crime and protect Bruce Wayne's parents from being murdered. They throw in Max Weber's view of state legitimacy, as well as Hobbes' Leviathan. Plus they throw in Nietzsche and his views on the state as a threat to liberty and self expression. Can only the state use force to bring law and order? Or can Batman use force as well? In Chapter 11, the authors ask whether Batman Could Have Been the Joker?. They discuss identities and ModAl and metaphysics (the study of what exists and how it goes about existing). That was too deep for my pea sized brain. The same holds true for Chapter 12, in which Wittgenstein's ideas on identity and language are brought to bear on Batman. Chapter 18, on the nature of friendship (Batman and Superman), Aristotle, loyalty, and Nietsche's ubermensch were easier for me to understand. All these just skim the surface of the wealth of ideas and explanations found in this book. Reading it will spur great discussions on the new Batman film, and you will learn more about philosophical ideas than you thought possible. Read more ›

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read October 3, 2008

By B. Frisch

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Very interesting read. The various authors seem to have done their homework - not only on philosophical ideas, but on the Batman mythos as well, and actually do a really good job of citing their sources and backing their claims with actual Batman storylines.

It's not the easiest read in the world - if you are expecting a graphic novel, think again - but philosophy itself isn't an easy subject to cover.

I like the fact they bring well-known philosophers' work to bear on the subject (Nietzsche, Singer, Kierkegaard for instance) so I was able to learn a little bit about them as well.

Overall a fun read, I enjoyed it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting depth of knowledge... on both subjects! June 10, 2009

By Ariel Brennan

Format:Paperback

If you're looking for a light, cheap (in the intellectual sense) read that doesn't require any thinking, this isn't your book. If you're looking for a book that shows a surprising depth of understanding both about both subjects, one that will make you think about aspects of both Batman you had never considered before and maybe teach you a few (or many) things about philosophy and interpretation of great philosophers along the way, this is definitely the book for you. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in Batman (or anyone involved in his crazy large batfamily!), and anyone versed in or just curious about great philosophers.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A Dark Pathology March 8, 2012

By Jeffrey Swystun

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

So many still mistakenly identify Batman with the campy Adam West version when the character's roots are deep and arguably disturbing. But it is that complexity that makes for fertile ground in the ongoing Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series. The fact that Batman possesses no super powers outside of a limitless bank account and a drive to punish criminals made him my favorite comic book hero. Superman seemed unbeatable so boring, The Green Lantern was far-fetched, Spiderman's angst never compelled, and so on. But Batman was more mysterious, yet his motives were clear given the murder of his parents (all things stem from one's family of origin).

But it was how that pathology manifested itself in dealing with others that fascinated. The man comes across as cold and as calculating as the villains he battles. In fact, he is one step away from crossing the line and it is that danger that provides the core narrative for The Dark Knight. As explored in one of the entries in this book, "without his hate, could the Batman exist?" The answer is 'no' and though revenge is his fuel, he is seen to be mostly morally good (early stories had him killing people but the writers quickly corrected that).

This book was a fun outing but should be consumed by serious fans of Batman only. They, more than most, may excuse the repetition I found in the various essays. Still Batman is intriguing for almost anyone as all of us can identify with his tenuous position as we strive to be good but our human foibles cause thoughts and sometimes actions which are clearly not. In the end, it is Batman's constancy of purpose that we admire and his inventiveness in getting the job done.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Look at the Bat August 30, 2010

By Rennie

Format:Paperback

After "The Dark Knight" came out and everyone was all in a tizzy about it (including me) I had the awesome and freeing opportunity to write a college-level paper about the systems of justice and order in Batman, particularly "The Dark Knight." Not only is this book a fascinating read for anyone into basic philosophy, comics, both, or just random knowledge, but it's actually chock-full of undergraduate-level philosophic discussions. This book helped me get an A on my paper, and if you ever have the opportunity to write a paper on Batman, definitely check this one out! Even if you don't, pick it up anyway because it's a quick and enlightening read.