Batman and Philosophy

By: Mark D. White, Robert Arp

Narrated by: Mark D. White

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

Why doesn't Batman just kill the Joker and end everyone's misery? Can we hold the Joker morally responsible for his actions? Is Batman better than Superman? If everyone followed Batman's example, would Gotham be a better place? What is the Tao of the Bat?

Batman is one of the most complex characters ever to appear in comic books, graphic novels, and on the big screen. What philosophical trials does this superhero confront in order to keep Gotham safe? Combing through 70 years of comic books, television shows, and movies, Batman and Philosophy explores how the Dark Knight grapples with ethical conundrums, moral responsibility, his identity crisis, the moral weight he carries to avenge his murdered parents, and much more. How does this caped crusader measure up against the teachings of Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Kierkegaard, and Lao Tzu?

©2008 Mark D. White (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Its interesting but stretches a bit.

Where does Batman and Philosophy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Somewhere in the middle

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The use of comic book characters to help the reader understand philosophical theory.

Any additional comments?

This an interesting book to read if you like comic books and have a philosophical bent in your thinking. If one or the other of these do not interest you this is not the book for you.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Dull

This was a chore to slog through, until I decided to give up on it. I've leaned to the Batman and psychology book and hoped this was more of the same. Sort of, but far less interesting. Maybe another narrator, one who is a little bit more animated than this one may have helped. I gave the story three stars because it wasn't a total waste. I did learn something for the few hours I tolerated the book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

I’m a man of simple tastes...

Fun listen. Basically an exploration of Batman from various perspectives in an attempt to define what set of ethics are portrayed by Batman. It leans on examples pulled from the comics and does a good job of keeping it entertaining and enlightening at the same time.

Stepping stone of a Book

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I have both an affinity for Batman and a love of wisdom. The part of this book I will carry on without needing to listen again is on the subject of death and doing harm to the dead in an unfulfilled promise. It has caused me to evaluate the good I do to others and their memory, as well as the bad I do to their memory whether dead or alive. I will definitely be sharing these nuggets of wisdom and I will be purchasing Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics for more on friendship. That is why this book is a stepping stone. Yes you learn more about Batman, his relationship to the Joker as well as the Robins (if that be name or title, but you're introduced with enough clarity to the leading rational thinkers and left with questions. Thus it is a stepping stone to greater knowledge.

Nice overview

Fun examination of the ethics and worldview of the Batman. I especially enjoyed the chapter on the virtue of hate and the culpability of the Joker.

great read on philosophy using a common subject

a great book to read if you want to learn about philosophy using a subject which you could understand or relate to

Interesting Discussion on Batman and Philosophy

What did you like best about Batman and Philosophy? What did you like least?

I liked the discussion on Batman and ethical issues best.

If you’ve listened to books by Mark D. White and Robert Arp before, how does this one compare?

First book of his I have listened to.

Could you see Batman and Philosophy being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No - this is a book that should not be made into a movie.

Fascinating insights into Batman

Not having had a huge interest in Batman previously, I found this a real eye-opener into the world of Gotham. I was surprised by the depth of the discussion into the character of Batman and it has left me wanting to explore Gotham for myself and have now bought Batman stories for me to read on my iPad (which, by the way, is a fantastic medium for these graphic tales).

Philosophy.. only for the hardcore batman fan

If you are not at least a fairly hardcore batman fan, you probably wont enjoy this. You don't have to be the #1 fan, knowing everything about all batman comics, but it would help to know at least the main core character relationships batman has.

If this is you, and you are even MILDLY interested in philosophy, then I think at the very least you'll get a kick out this, and at the very most you will be entertained with a tour through the batman world while you're being introduced to and explore the more core ideas of philosophy.

Batman cool! Philosophy.. snore!

Any additional comments?

Huh? Sorry, I must have dozed off! This book put me to sleep. Time for me to find a new genre! Yawn - Stretch!

0 of 6 people found this review helpful

Boring

Went on far to long fell asleep half way through get a dark and stormy night instead.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Thought Provoking

Would you consider the audio edition of Batman and Philosophy to be better than the print version?

A fantastic, thought provoking, clear and lucid account of the potential motivations of one, if not the only one true complex superhero (and villains) the comic book character Batman and his enemies (such as the joker), they come across as so much more that make believe characters, this is a fantastic book that makes philosophy, which is usually regarded boring and stuffy - well your wrong! - incredibly compelling, stimulating and as my headline for this review says/is thought provoking. This is more than a book on philosophy it also can be seen as a basic primer for phycology. highly recommended to everyone not just bat-fans.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Batman and Philosophy?

all of it!

What does Mark D. White bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

This isn't a story but does have a brilliant narration by mark D. White

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

You can certainty identify, whether right or wrong (which maybe scary or overwhelming ) with the human minds, perceptions, thoughts and motivations and therefore physical manifest behaviours presented in this book - you are human after all?

0 of 1 people found this review helpful