Mark D. White 
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
2010

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. Iron Man and Philosophy explores the many
philosophical issues that emerge from the essential conflicts found
in the decades of Iron Man stories in comics and movies. What kind
of moral compass does Tony Stark have? Is Iron Man responsible for
the death of Captain America after the Marvel Universe ‚Civil
War‘? Should people like Stark run the world? How does
Tony’s alcoholism impact his performance as Iron Man, and
what does it say about moral character? Ultimately, what can Iron
Man teach us about the role of technology in society?

As absorbing as Iron Man comic books and movies, Iron
Man and Philosophy:

* Gives you a new perspective on Iron Man characters,
story lines, 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 government

Whether 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.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Iron Introductions and Armored Acknowledgments.

Part One The Nuts and Bolts of Tony Stark.

1 The Stark Madness of Technology (George A. Dunn).

2 The Technological Subversion of Technology: Tony Stark,
Heidegger and the Subject of Resistance (Rocco Gangle).

3 The Literal Making of a Superhero (Travis N.
Rieder).

Part Two Wearing the Armor Responsibly.

4 Can Iron Man Atone for Tony Stark’s Wrongs?
(Christopher Robichaud).

5 Did Iron Man Kill Captain America? (Mark D. White).

6 Fate at the Bottom of a Bottle: Alcohol and Tony Stark (Ron
Novy).

Part Three The Iron Age: Tony Stark’s Role in
Society.

7 Tony Stark and ‚The Gospel of Wealth‘ (Andrew
Terjesen).

8 (TM) and Stark Industries: Iron Man and Property
Rights (Daniel P. Malloy).

9 Tony Stark, Philosopher King of the Future? (Tony
Spanakos).

Part Four The Mind Inside the Iron Man.

10 Iron Man in a Chinese Room: Does Living Armor Think? (Ron
Novy).

11 Flexing His Intelligence: Tony Stark’s Brainy Brawn
(Phillip S. Seng).

12 Does Tony Stark Have an Iron Will? (Mark D.
White).

Part Five The Virtue of an Avenger.

13. Does Tony Stark Use a Moral Compass? (Sarah K. Donovan
and Nicholas P. Richardson).

14 Flawed Heroes and Courageous Villains: Plato, Aristotle, and
Iron Man on the Unity of the Virtues (Carsten Fogh
Nielsen).

15 ‚I Have a Good Life‘: Iron Man and the Avenger School of
Virtue (Stephanie Patterson and Brett Patterson).

Part Six What It Means to Be an Iron Man.

16 Iron Man and the Problem of Progress (David Valleau
Curtis).

17 Engendering Justice in Iron Man (Rebecca Housel and Gary
Housel).

18 Iron Man’s Transcendent Challenge (Stephen
Faller).

Contributor: Avengers Assembled.

Index: Topics from the S.H.I.E.L.D. File on Tony Stark/Iron
Man.

Über den Autor

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
Watchmen 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
Watchmen and Philosophy.