Brief Introduction
Explore key areas of philosophy—metaphysics and epistemology, social and political philosophy, and ethics—through the lens of the superhero narrative.Course Summary
Explore the intersection of philosophy and superheroes in this course from Harvard. Dive deep into ethical questions and moral dilemmas faced by superheroes and apply them to real-world situations.Key Learning Points
- Examine the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by superheroes
- Apply philosophical concepts to real-world situations
- Explore the cultural significance of superheroes
Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have
- USA: $75,000 - $110,000
- India: INR 5,00,000 - INR 10,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €50,000
- USA: $75,000 - $110,000
- India: INR 5,00,000 - INR 10,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €50,000
- USA: $45,000 - $85,000
- India: INR 3,00,000 - INR 8,00,000
- Spain: €20,000 - €40,000
- USA: $75,000 - $110,000
- India: INR 5,00,000 - INR 10,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €50,000
- USA: $45,000 - $85,000
- India: INR 3,00,000 - INR 8,00,000
- Spain: €20,000 - €40,000
- USA: $70,000 - $120,000
- India: INR 6,00,000 - INR 15,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €60,000
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Develop a nuanced understanding of ethical concepts
- Apply philosophical concepts to real-world scenarios
- Analyze the cultural significance of superheroes
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- A basic understanding of philosophy
- Willingness to explore complex ethical concepts
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online, Self-paced
- Video Lectures
- Reading Assignments
- Quizzes
Similar Courses
- Justice, Equality, and the Social Contract
- The Ethics of Eating
Related Education Paths
Notable People in This Field
- Moral Philosopher
- Philosopher and Professor
Related Books
Description
Course description
Pow! Bang! Kaboom! Superhero stories, first arriving on the scene in the late 1930s, are now among the most popular forms of global entertainment. From Superman's embrace of truth, justice, and the American way to Wonder Woman's efforts at promoting peace rather than war, from Spider-Man's personal struggles at balancing his romantic life with his crime fighting exploits to the X-Men's social struggles with combating prejudice and antagonism, the world has turned its attention to these colorful and larger-than-life narratives, which first emerged in comic books and radio shows but now are also widely found in film, television, and video games. This course leverages the enthusiasm over superheroes to introduce students to core areas of philosophy—metaphysics and epistemology, social and political philosophy, ethics, philosophy of mind, and more. By directly engaging these fantastic narratives, it demonstrates that behind the four-colored panels are stories and characters of depth and complexity, affording us many opportunities to learn important and substantive philosophical ideas in a fresh and exciting way.
Summary of User Reviews
Discover the philosophy behind superheroes in the Harvard course Power and Responsibility: Doing Philosophy with Superheroes. This course received positive reviews for its engaging and thought-provoking content.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
Many users enjoyed the course's exploration of ethical and moral dilemmas through the lens of popular superheroes.Pros from User Reviews
- Engaging and thought-provoking content
- Well-structured and easy to follow lectures
- In-depth analysis of superhero narratives
- Great discussion forums
- Excellent supplementary materials
Cons from User Reviews
- Limited interactivity and feedback from instructors
- Some users found the course to be too basic
- Not enough focus on non-Western perspectives
- Lack of diversity in the superhero examples used
- Some technical issues with the online platform
Power and Responsibility: Doing Philosophy with Superheroes
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Pow! Bang! Kaboom! Power and Responsibility: Doing Philosophy with Superheroes, a SmithsonianX and Harvard Division of Continuing Education course, blends superheroes narratives with the core areas of philosophy....
