Iron Man and Philosophy

The first look at the philosophy behind the Iron Man comicsand movies, timed for the release of Iron Man 2 in March2010

On the surface, Iron Man appears to be a straightforwardsuperhero, another rich guy fighting crime with fancy gadgets. Butbeneath the shiny armor and flashy technology lies Tony Stark,brilliant inventor and eccentric playboy, struggling to balance hisdesires, addictions, and relationships with his duties as theArmored Avenger. Iron Man and Philosophy explores the manyphilosophical issues that emerge from the essential conflicts foundin the decades of Iron Man stories in comics and movies. What kindof moral compass does Tony Stark have? Is Iron Man responsible forthe death of Captain America after the Marvel Universe CivilWar ? Should people like Stark run the world? How doesTony s alcoholism impact his performance as Iron Man, andwhat does it say about moral character? Ultimately, what can IronMan teach us about the role of technology in society?

As absorbing as Iron Man comic books and movies, IronMan 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 havegotten into Iron Man through the movies, Iron Man andPhilosophy is a must-have companion for every fan.