Iron Man and Philosophy Facing the Stark Reality

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.

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.