Running head: Superman Doomsday Ethics 1 Superman Doomsday Ethics: An ethical analysis of Superman (Real, Clone) and Lex Luthor Liam McCaffrey Tallahassee Community College PHI2600 – 136785 Ethics Kermit Harrison NOV 19, 2014 Authors Note This paper is an analysis of ethical principles exhibited in the main characters of the Superman Doomsday film by Warner Bros. Animation Inc., it was shown for educational purposed in PHI2600, instructed by Professor Kermit Harrison at Tallahassee Community College. Superman Doomsday Ethics 2 Abstract Morality, ideally, is a plateau to judge the actions of men. Though there are different philosophical lenses through which society judges the morality of actions, none are wholly encompassing to assess right from wrong, or good from evil. The morality of three characters, Clone Superman (“Clone”), Real Superman (“Real”) and Lex Luthor will be discussed. Each character is analyzed through the lens of three philosophers concerning ethical principle, Immanuel Kant, Carl Marx, and David Hume. “Real”: According to Kant and Hume, Superman –real possesses intrinsic morality. Interpretations of Kant, suggests that “Real” conforms to a posteriori empiricism. Interpretations of Hume, suggest that “Real” conforms to a sentiment morality. Interpretations of Carl Marx, suggests that “Real” conforms to a social or species life. “Clone”: According to Kant, Hume, and Marx, “Clone” is nearly opposite of “Real”. Interpretations of Kant reveal that “Clone” conforms to a priori rationalism. Interpretations of Hume reveal that “Clone” conforms to rational morality. According to Carl Marx, “Clone” is a proletariat and is alienated from himself. Lex Luthor: According to Kant, Lex Luthor possesses intrinsic morality. Interpretations of Kant show that Lex Luthor conforms to a posteriori empiricism. Interpretations of Hume show that Lex Luthor conforms to a sentiment morality. But, interpretations of Marx, suggests that Lex Luthor conforms to a bourgeoisie morality. Table A. provides a visual sense to the abstract meaning of the different ethical formalities of each character according to Hume, Kant, and Marx. According to Table A., all three characters possess rationality, but ultimate morality requires rationality, sentiment, and species life. “Real” portrays this requirement, but both “Clone” and Lex Luthor are deficient in the species life. While this assessment is in agreement with Marxism, it is also in accord with Hume and Kant. Superman Doomsday Ethics 3 Table A. Hume believes ultimate morality must involve a sense of species awareness and Kant believes ultimate morality must involve a sense of supreme (universal) principle of morality, pertaining to the good that an action will have to the evolution of species but not necessarily void to the individual. Here is an excerpt in attempt to convey this meaning according to Kant. For as reason is not competent to guide the will with certainty in regards to its objects in and the satisfaction of all our wants (which it to some extent even multiplies), the being an end to which an implanted instinct would have led with much greater certainty, and since, nevertheless, reason is imparted to us as a practical faculty, i.e. as one which is to have influence on the will, therefore, admitting that nature generally in the distribution of her capacities has adapted the means to the end, its true destination must be to produce a will, not merely good as a means to something else, but good in itself, for which reason was absolutely necessary. This will, then, though not indeed the sole and complete good, must be the supreme good and the condition of every other, even of the desire of happiness. (World Ethics, Immanuel Kant, Fundamental Principles of the metaphysics of morals, p. 81) This capacity, which is an addendum to rationality, is not seen in Lex Luthor or “clone”. Doomsday Ethics 4 Superman Doomsday Ethics: An ethical analysis of Superman (Real, Clone) and Lex Luthor In the analysis of the Superman Doomsday film, Lex Luthor speaks very early in the introduction about the power that a god –like being has over man, and cites that man should be obedient in return for their safety. Luther is logical and historical in his method of thought, and cites his motive plainly So sleek, so powerful, so beautiful, like some great golden god made flesh. Of course any sensible god would demand obedience in return for his favor, but no, our man of steel protects us, and keeps us with no strings attached. And the people, they practically worship him anyway. Enjoy your rein while you may Superman [real], for surely as night follows day, there comes a time when even gods must die. (Luthor 1hr) Lex Luthor appears to be exercising form of Marx’s master or noble mentality in his thought process, which is necessary to adopt Marx’s bourgeoisie morality, which is different from a herd or slave mentality. An example of Lex Luther’s bourgeoisie morality is evident during a fight scene in which “Clone” tries to persuade “Real” of their intrinsic connection. [Brief excerpt will contain dialogue of “Clone” and “Real”] Wow that almost hurt. Look, why prolong this, I can keep this up all day but you, why not fly on out of here while you still can –“Clone” Leave the city in your hands, not likely –“Real” But don’t you get it, I am you. A reflection of you as you might have been –“Clone” If I were raised by Luthor –“Real “ If you were strong –“Clone” (1hr5m) The reason why this is a prime example of the argument is that the bourgeoisie morality is one in which the strong must rule over the week, like nobleman to peasants. Lex Luthor is a posteriori empiricist (Kant), this classification of morality is depicted by a scene that described Lex Luther as a learned man. In this scene excerpt, a creature created by another world was jettisoned deep within the earth in hopes of not being retrieved. Lex Corp. unearthed it, and later the creature (Doomsday) kills “Real”, but Lex Luther feels frustrated by the frivolity of “Real’s” demise. For this reason, Lex Luthor Superman Doomsday Ethics 5 –seems to be very logical and methodical in his actions, which leads to the type of morality that is the sentiment morality according to Hume. Taken before him time, so completely, absurdly, random. I wanted a winning strategy. Instead, I have been cheated of the victory I have been planning for years by an intergalactic soccer hooligan. (Luthor 34m 37s) I have sculpted your clone from a strand of DNA from a fleck of blood swabbed from the scene of your epic final battle. Your doppleganger [clone] possesses all of your speed, strength, your morality, but not your mind. He only knows what I have programmed him to know. (Luthor 40m 35s) This introduces us to the analysis of “Clone’s” morality. Lex Luther has only programmed the clone with morality and not the mind. In this fashion, “Clone” cannot have sentiment morality because “Clone” does not have a subjective mind, instead is ruled by a rational morality (Hume). This determination is accord with Kant’s priori rationalism. “Clone” has been made, which implies that certain knowledge must have been programmed in advance of any learned experience. This is precisely what priori rationalism is, the ability to know a substance without ascertaining the experience of it. This is a crude approximation of moral behavior. It fails to recognize the fragility of morality, which often changes with cultural or societal identity. Here, is an excerpt from Hume: Upon the whole, then, it seems undeniable that nothing can bestow more merit on any human creature than the sentiment of benevolence in an eminent degree; and that a part, at least of its merit arises from its tendency to promote the interests of our species, and bestow happiness on human society. (World Ethics: An Enquiry Concerning the Principle of Morals, Hume, p. 72) In priori rationalism, there is an absence of human existentialism that inexorably leads to a loss of self individuality. This loss also manifests as alienation in Marxism, in which the laborer loses sentimental value for the object of his labor. This, then is parallel to priori rationalism, the alienated laborer loses his identity and becomes private property. The alienated human becomes a priori rationalist who has lost the capacity to be sentimental with the universe and, in the very least, only knows what ensures his own survival. This is the “Clone”. Animal do this, like the “Clone”. But, in the Superman Doomsday Ethics 6 –evolution of time, animals have not yet developed their cerebral cortex which governs rationality and sentiment. Thus, animals are predominantly controlled by the mammalian brain. When they do, they will become more than animals, rather intelligent beings capable of thoughts that are neither the product of pleasure or pain, but of a rationality and sentiment, a universality, an existential frame of mind. The kind of thought this is can be attributed to Carl Marx’s species life or social life, and the character that portrays this thought is our third character, “Real”. “Real” professes his species life early on, he speaks of the people of Metropolis as being a part of his life, and his life a part of Metropolis’s. “Real” mentions coming to Metropolis has taught him how people function in society, and he has learned what is best for humanity. Here is an excerpt on this idea, I hope I can help human kind more than just being its resident strong man, one thing I have learned since arriving at Metropolis, is that those in power don’t always have the people interest at heart. (“Real” 8 min) An excerpt from the end of a fight scene that captures the essence of Karl Marx’s species life: Now tell me who is better equipped to protect Metropolis. –“Clone” You have all my strengths, and my weaknesses. –“Real” [“Clone” looks at his chest, and begins to weaken by the kryptonite cartridge, “Clone” spirals to the ground and crawls to “Real” to utter a few words] Pro… protect the people –“Clone” It’s why I’m here. I’m not sure if they will ever trust me again. –“Real” They will, it will just take some time. –“Louis Lane” (1 hr 5min) An excerpt from a fight scene with Doomsday and “real”, “Real” defeats Doomsday, but is injured. Get out of here, now. [before the fight] –“Louis Lane” It’s why I’m here. [before the fight] –“Real” Is everyone safe, good, that’s, that’s all that, matters [after the fight] –“Real” (27m 15s) Superman Doomsday Ethics 7 Throughout the length of the film, “Real” consistently relates his own life with the life of a Metropolitan. “Real” has learned what it means to be from somewhere and to be someone, he feels an intrinsic bond with the people of Metropolis and of the human beings on planet Earth. “Real’s” life is the species life. According to Marx, one who is the species life is compelled to live not only for bodily survival, but for the life of the species as universal whole thinker. Though man is a unique individual –and it is just his particularity which makes him an individual, a really individual communal being –he is equally the whole, the ideal whole, the subjective existence of society as thought and experienced. He exists in a reality as the representation and the real mind of social existence, and as the sum of human manifestations of life. (World Ethics, Karl Marx, Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, p. 111) In accord with Kant’s posteriori empiricism, this is reflected in the rationality that “Real” exhibits. Here is a scene excerpt of a battle between “Real” and “Clone” towards the end of the film. “Real” watches the news, and rips off his electrodes that are part of his healing process, to fight “Clone” But Kal El [“Real”], you’re only at 67 percent –“robot” It will have to do. I will need a solar suit, to help absorb yellow sun rays during my flight there. –“real” (1 hr 1 min) Here, the posteriori is an individual who is learned, and above all is practical. Similar to Hume’s sentiment morality, “Real” engages in selfless acts which elevates him to possess not only sentiment for the object, but also universality (a sense of being with the object). In Marx’s view, this social consciousness is the social virtue that is more than a programmed moral duty. The excerpt below should convey to the reader this ideal. The social virtues must, therefore, be allowed to have a natural beauty and amiableness, which, at first, antecedent to all precepts or education, recommends them to the esteem of uninstructed mankind, and engages their affections. And as the public utility of these virtues is the chief circumstance, whence they derive their merit, it follows, that the end, which they have a tendency to promote, must be way agreeable to us, and take –hold of some natural affection. Superman Doomsday Student Ethics 8 It must please, either from considerations of self interest, or from more generous motives and regards. (World Ethics, Karl Marx, Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, p. 75) Conclusion The apparent moral aptitude of “Real” and “Clone” wholly reside in their belief in the people of Metropolis, that the will of each character masks the species life. Yet, in actuality, our analysis reveals that “Clone” is a proletariat and is merely ignorant of his self –alienation (Marx). The character “Real” embraces all three ideals of morality, which are the sentiment and rational (Hume), the social or species life (Marx) and the posteriori empiricism (Kant). It is a profound insight that, from Table A., the only distinction between Lex Luthor and “Real” is made by an analysis of Marx philosophy, that Lex Luthor is distinguishable only by a bourgeoisie morality, which is opposite of “Real” being a social or species life. Superman Doomsday Ethics 9 References Lauren Montgomery, Bruce W. Timm, Brandon Vietti (Directors), 2007. Superman/Doomsday, U.S.A.: Warner Bros. Animation Inc. Retrieved from yify .tv/watch - supermandoomsday-online-free-yify/ Wanda Torres, G. & Donna, G.(2003). World Ethics. Wadsworth CENGAGE Learning
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 05:04:22 +0000
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