Superhero Thought Experiments: Comic Book Philosophy

Superhero Thought Experiments: Comic Book Philosophy

Examining the deep philosophical topics addressed in superhero comics, authors Gavaler and Goldberg read plot lines for the complex thought experiments they contain and analyze their implications as if the comic authors were philosophers. Reading superhero comic books through a philosophical lens reveals how they experiment with complex issues of morality, metaphysics, meaning, and medium. Given comics’ ubiquity and influence directly on (especially young) readers—and indirectly on consumers of superhero movies and video games—understanding these deeper meanings is in many ways essential to understanding contemporary popular culture. The result is an entertaining and enlightening look at superhero dilemmas. “Comics can teach you about philosophy, and philosophy will help you understand comics. What is right and wrong? What is the nature of the self? Is time really real? Superhero comics deal seriously with these classic philosophical issues.”—David Carrier, author, Aesthetics of the Margins/The Margins of Aesthetics: Wild Art Explained -- David Carrier Chris Gavaler is associate professor of English at Washington and Lee University. He is author of On the Origin of Superheroes: From the Big Bang to Action Comics No. 1 and comics editor of Shenandoah . Nathaniel Goldberg is professor of philosophy at Washington and Lee University. He is author of Kantian Conceptual Geography .