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Authors: Mark White

Avengers and Philosophy: Earth's Mightiest Thinkers, The

BOOK: Avengers and Philosophy: Earth's Mightiest Thinkers, The
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CONTENTS

 

Introduction: Earth’s Mightiest Philosophers

 

Part One: What Would an Avenger Do?

 

Chapter 1: Superhuman Ethics Class with the Avengers Prime

 

The Utilitarian Iron Man

 

Captain America: Duty above all Else

 

Convicted Heroes

 

Verily, a Fine Segue!

 

Ethicists Assemble!

 

Chapter 2: Shining the Light on the Dark Avengers

 

Plato and the Ancient Greek Avengers

 

Does Might Make Right?

 

Are the Dark Avengers Evil or Simply Bold?

 

No One Needs to Know

 

Being Just

 

Just How Dark are the Dark Avengers?

 

Chapter 3: The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Family

 

Of Father and Ultron

 

Sometimes the Apples Do Fall Far from the Tree

 

Journey to the Center of the Ant

 

The Ties that Bind

 

The Torch is Passed

 

Sins of the Father?

 

Let there be an Ending!

 

Part Two: Who is an Avenger?

 

Chapter 4: Superhero Identity: Case Studies in the Avengers

 

It’s all about Bodies, Right?

 

I like you for your Mind, Honest

 

Unmasking the Mantle Theory of Superhero Identity

 

Case Study 1: The Supersoldier

 

Case Study 2: Pym Particles

 

Are you the Next Goliath?

 

Chapter 5: I am Made of Ink: She-Hulk and Metacomics

 

What is a Metacomic?

 

Your Cover is Blown, Jen

 

“There’s a Reader Out There Now!”

 

Gutter-Hoppin’ and More Amazing Stories

 

Don’t Make the She-Hulk Angry . . .

 

What are the She-Hulk’s Powers?

 

Maybe Jen’s Reading this Chapter Right Now

 

Chapter 6: The Self-Corruption of Norman Osborn: A Cautionary Tale

 

Osborn’s Oratory and the Dark Reign

 

The Split Osborn Identity

 

Wag the Goblin

 

Hoist by his Own Petard

 

Part Three: Should the Avengers Do More Than Avenge?

 

Chapter 7: Forgivers Assemble!

 

Time Travel, Retcons, and Forgiveness

 

Can Cap Forgive the Rest of his Kooky Quartet?

 

Who will Forgive the Mutants?

 

Forgive Me!

 

Forgiveness in the House Of M

 

The Paradox of Forgiveness

 

Avengers, Forgive!

 

Chapter 8: Gods, Beasts, and Political Animals: Why the Avengers Assemble

 

Assembling for Necessity or Perfection?

 

Elementary Greek Lessons (Approved by the Comics Code)

 

Ms.-Sing her Friends

 

Getting her Arête Together

 

The Original Irredeemable Ant-Man

 

Neither Gods nor Beasts But Political Animals

 

Chapter 9: Cap’s Kooky Quartet: Is Rehabilitation Possible?

 

Can an Archer Change his Trick Arrows?

 

Finding a Balance with Hawkeye

 

Maybe it Really is in the Blood

 

Old Dogs and New Tricks

 

Avenging or Saving?

 

Hope for the Future?

 

Avengers Rehabilitate!

 

Part Four: Do the Avengers Ever Go Too Far?

 

Chapter 10: Fighting the Good Fight: Military Ethics and the Kree-Skrull War

 

Entry Point to the Kree-Skrull War

 

There’s an Intergalactic War Going on and You’re Invited

 

Was Ronan in the Right?

 

Those Sneaky Skrulls

 

Tortured Logic

 

And the war Rages on

 

Chapter 11: Secrets and Lies: Compromising the Avengers’ Values for the Good of the World

 

Figuring out the Rules

 

Occulting the Truth

 

Sorcerer Supreme Emergency

 

Shhhhh—Avengers Assemble (in Secret)!

 

Being Wikileaked On

 

“This is the Kind of Thing that is Going to Bite US in the Butt”

 

Chapter 12: The Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Problem with Proactive Superheroics

 

The Ultimates, the Avengers, and Nick Fury’s S.H.I.E.L.D.

 

Red and Gold Helicarriers?

 

I Didn’t Mean it, Honest

 

This Changes Everything (Until it Changes Back)

 

But I Want to Help!

 

Captain America’s mighty S.H.I.E.L.D. . . . Well, Sort Of

 

Part Five: What Kind of World do the Avengers Live In?

 

Chapter 13: Can Kang Kill his Past Self? The Paradox of Time Travel

 

The Science of Bending Time

 

Breaking Time

 

Building a Time Machine

 

Closed Timelike Kang

 

Time to End

 

Chapter 14: “No Other Gods Before Me”: God, Ontology, and Ethics in the Avengers’ Universe

 

God, the One-Who-Is-Above-All—or “Stan,” For Short

 

“Gods are a Bit Different”

 

Ontology Comics #1

 

Does Godliness Imply Goodness?

 

Equal Opportunity—for Deities?

 

Chapter 15: Love Avengers Style: Can an Android Love a Human?

 

What is Love, Anyway?

 

Friends, Lovers, and Significant Others

 

Unreciprocated Love

 

“No Sister of Mine May Become Involved with a—a—a Robot!”

 

Love: American Style

 

Chapter 16: The Way of the Arrow: Hawkeye Meets the Taoist Masters

 

Don’t Try So Hard, Clint

 

When is a Butcher Like an Archer?

 

Hawkeye, Humble?

 

The Life and Death of a Hero

 

The Way of the Archer

 

Appendix: Why are there Four Volumes of Avengers?

BOOK: Avengers and Philosophy: Earth's Mightiest Thinkers, The
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