Research Catalog

Title

Iron Man and philosophy : facing the Stark reality / edited by Mark D. White.

Publication

Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., c2010.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

White, Mark D., 1971-

Description

vii, 280 p.; 23 cm.

Summary

On the surface, Iron Man appears to be a straightforward superhero, another rich guy fighting crime with fancy gadgets. But beneath the shiny armor and flashy technology lies Tony Stark, brilliant inventor and eccentric playboy, struggling to balance his desires, addictions, and relationships with his duties as the armored avenger. This book explores the philosophical issues that emerge from the essential conflicts found in the decades of Iron Man stories in comics and movies. It looks at what kind of moral compass Stark has; whether Iron Man is responsible for the death of Captain America; whether people like Stark should run the world; the impact of Stark's alcoholism on his performance as Iron Man; and what can Iron Man teach us about the role of technology in society.

Series Statement

The Blackwell philosophy and pop culture series

Uniform Title

Blackwell philosophy and popculture series

Subject

• Comic books, strips, etc. > United States > Philosophy
• Iron Man (Fictitious character)
• Iron Man (Motion picture)

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Part I: The nuts and bolts of Tony Stark. The stark madness of technology / George A. Dunn -- The technological subversion of technology : Tony Stark, Heidegger, and the subject of resistance / Rocco Gangle -- The literal making of a superhero / Travis N. Rieder -- Part II: Wearing the armor responsibly. Can Iron Man atone for Tony Stark's wrongs? / Christopher Robichaud -- Did Iron Man kill Captain America? / Mark D. White -- Fate at the bottom of a bottle : alcohol and Tony Stark / Ron Novy -- Part III: The iron age : Tony Stark's role in society. Tony Stark and "the gospel of wealth" / Andrew Terjesen -- [Tradmark symbol] and [copyright symbol] Stark industries : Iron Man and property rights / Daniel P. Malloy -- Tony Stark, philosopher king of the future? / Tony Spanakos -- Part IV: The mind inside the Iron Man. Iron Man in a Chinese room : does living armor think? / Ron Novy -- Flexing his intelligence : Tony Stark's brainy brawn / Phillip S. Seng -- Does Tony Stark have an iron will? / Mark D. White -- Part V: The virtue of an avenger. Does Tony Stark use a moral compass? / Sarah K. Donovan and Nicholas P. Richardson -- Flawed heroes and courageous villains : Plato, Aristotle, and Iron Man on the unity of the virtues / Carsten Fogh Nielsen -- "I have a good life" : Iron Man and the avenger school of virtue / Stephanie Patterson and Brett Patterson -- Part VI: What it means to be an iron man. Iron Man and the problem of progress / David Valleau Curtis -- Engendering justice in Iron Man / Rebecca Housel and Gary Housel -- Iron Man's transcendent challenge / Stephen Faller.

ISBN

• 9780470482186 (pbk.)
• 0470482184 (pbk.)

LCCN

^^2009031396

OCLC

430678936

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library