The Virtues of Captain America: Modern–Day Lessons on Character from a World War II Superhero

Clad in an American flag, the patriotic comic book character Captain America was first portrayed battling against the forces of evil unleashed during World War II. Today, however, Captain America is often seen as a throwback to a simpler time, embodying a black–and–white ethical code poorly suited to the complexities of the modern world. In The Virtues of Captain America , philosopher and pop culture expert Mark D. White argues that “Cap” is indeed a hero for the contemporary era and someone to be emulated now more than ever. White reveals that Captain America’s focus on core principles and ideals, combined with his sound judgment, compassion, and iron will, is anything but simple—and is precisely what we need to navigate twenty–first–century problems in our personal lives, our communities, and our country as a whole. White shows us that while Captain America is often regarded as a jingoistic flag–waver, he has been written consistently as representing a kind of patriotism that adheres to basic tenets of liberty and equality while staying above partisan politics. On several occasions, in fact, Captain America’s devotion to these principles has led him to defy the American government when he feels it doesn’t live up to its own ideals. Infused with philosophical insights couched in humor, The Virtues of Captain America shows us that by following Cap’s example, people on both ends of the political spectrum can learn to put their differences aside and focus on their common ground—the basic principles that all of America embodies.

Mark D. White is Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at the College of Staten Island/CUNY. He is the author of Kantian Ethics and Economics: Autonomy, Dignity, and Character (2011) and The Manipulation of Choice: Ethics and Libertarian Paternalism (2013) and has edited or co–edited books in the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series on Batman, Superman, Iron Man, Green Lantern, the Avengers, and Watchmen .