Batman and ethics 9781119038047, 9781119038030, 9781119038023, 1119038049, 1119038030
Batman has been one of the world's most beloved superheroes since his first appearance in issue #27 ofDetective Com
522 88 873KB
English Pages 284 Year 2019
Table of contents :
Intro
Title Page
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Which Batman?
Part I What Batman Tries to Do-and How He Might Do It Better
Chapter 1 Utilitarianism and the Mission
Utilitarianism: Bentham, Mill, and ... Wayne?
Not as Simple as It Seems
Notes
Chapter 2 Limitations of the Mission
The Dark Utilitarian
Fighting Crime and Only Fighting Crime
What about Vengeance and Justice?
Sticking to Gotham City
The Futility of the Bat
Notes
Chapter 3 Trade-Offs within the Mission
Holy Decisions, Batman!
The Partiality of the Bat
Save Rather Than Chase ... No Matter Who Needs Saving Save Everybody ... Even Those Who Would Kill?The Problem of the Robins
Notes
Chapter 4 The Value and Meaning of the Bat
Is Being Batman the Best He Can Do?
But Is Batman Good for Gotham?
Is Batman ... Happy?
What Being Batman Means ... to Batman
Notes
Intermezzo
Notes
Part II What Batman Is Willing to Do-and What He Isn't
Chapter 5 Deontology and the Rules
The Deontological Knight
The Brave and the Bold: Utilitarianism vs. Deontology
Notes
Chapter 6 Killing
Thou Shalt Not Kill
To the Bat-Trolley!
The Real Reason Batman Refuses to Kill ... and the Problem with It "There's Always a Choice for People Like Us" ... But Is There Really?But He Has Killed ... and More Than Once ...
Notes
Chapter 7 Torture and Violence
Part 1: Torture
Does Batman Practice Torture?
The Ethics of Torture
Part 2: Violence
What Batman Says About Violence
The Leslie Thompkins Objection
"Only When Necessary" ... Really?
Losing Control
Notes
Chapter 8 Law, Justice, and the Police
Breakin' the Law
Batman's Relationship with the Police ... and the Vigilante Question
Taking the Law into His Own Hands
It's Just Procedure ... or Is It?
Lawbreaking for Me, But Not for Thee
Notes ConclusionLooking Back
The Importance of Moral Consistency
Notes
References
Index
List of Comics Writers and Artists
EULA
