Iron Man and Philosophy: Facing the Stark Reality

Can Iron Man′s armor actually think?

Is Tony Stark′s intelligence the greatest source of Iron Man′s power?

Can Iron Man be both a superhero and the corporate property of Stark Industries?

Does the Iron Man technology point the way to a brighter future or a darkening horizon?

Can Tony Stark be a genuine superhero and a hard–drinking womanizer?

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? Ultimately, what can Iron Man teach us about the role of technology in society?

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 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.

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.