Iron Man and Philosophy Facing the Stark Reality

by Irwin, William; White, Mark D.

• ISBN13: 9780470482186
• ISBN10: 0470482184
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-03-22
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

The first look at the philosophy behind the Iron Man comics and movies, timed for the release of Iron Man 2 in March 2010When genius-and-playboy-turned-superhero Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) uses his technological prowess to help others rather than the war machine he's nurtured with Stark Industries, he must grapple not only with a suit of armor, but with dangers and philosophical dilemmas that give new meaning to the term "heavy metal." This book is the first to explore them, drawing on the wisdom of philosophical heavyweights like Plato to answer essential questions such as: Can someone be morally flawed and still deserve to be a superhero? If Iron Man is the property of Stark Industries, what are the moral ramifications of ownership? How can virtue ethics explain the direction of Tony Stark's moral compass? Why should Tony Stark be the only person to make use of the Iron Man technology?As absorbing as Iron Man comic books and movies, Iron Man and Philosophy Gives you a new perspective on Iron Man characters, storylines, and themes Shows what philosophical heavy hitters such as Aristotle, Locke and Heidegger can teach us about Tony Stark/Iron Man Considers issues such as addiction, personal responsibility, the use of technology, and the role of governmentWhether you've been reading the comic books for years or have gotten into Iron Man through the movies, Iron Man and Philosophy is a must-have companion for every fan.

Author Biography

Mark D. White is a professor in the Department of Political Science, Economics, and Philosophy at the College of Staten Island/CUNY. He coedited Batman and Philosophy and edited Watchman and Philosophy. William Irwin is a professor of philosophy at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books as coeditor of the bestselling The Simpsons and Philosophy and has overseen recent titles, including Batman and Philosophy, House and Philosophy, and Watchman and Philosophy.

Table of Contents

Iron Introductions and Armored Acknowledgments	p. 1
The Nuts and Bolts of Tony Stark	p. 5
The Stark Madness of Technology	p. 7
The Technological Subversion of Technology: Tony Stark, Heidegger, and the Subject of Resistance	p. 25
The Literal Making of a Superhero	p. 38
Wearing The Armor Responsibly	p. 51
Can Iron Man Atone for Tony Stark's Wrongs?	p. 53
Did Iron Man Kill Captain America?	p. 64
Fate at the Bottom of a Bottle: Alcohol and Tony Stark	p. 80
The Iron Age: Tony Stark's Role In Society	p. 95
Tony Stark and "The Gospel of Wealth"	p. 97
™ and © Stark Industries: Iron Man and Property Rights	p. 115
Tony Stark, Philosopher King of the Future?	p. 129
The Mind Inside The Iron Man	p. 145
Iron Man in a Chinese Room: Does Living Armor Think?	p. 147
Flexing His Intelligence: Tony Stark's Brainy Brawn	p. 160
Does Tony Stark Have an Iron Will?	p. 172
The Virtue of An Avenger	p. 187
Does Tony Stark Use a Moral Compass?	p. 189
Flawed Heroes and Courageous Villains: Plato, Aristotle, and Iron Man on the Unity of the Virtues	p. 201
"I Have a Good Life": Iron Man and the Avenger School of Virtue	p. 217
What It Means To Bean Iron Man	p. 231
Iron Man and the Problem of Progress	p. 233
Engendering Justice in Iron Man	p. 245
Iron Man's Transcendent Challenge	p. 256
Contributors: Avengers Assembled	p. 265
Index: Topics from the S.H.I.E.L.D. File on Tony Stark/Iron Man	p. 273
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