Popular Culture and Philosophy

Avengers Infinity Saga and Philosophy
Edited by Robert Arp, Heather L. Rivera

A team of superphilosophers provides a wealth of new insights into the Infinity Wars/End Game saga.

In Avengers Infinity Saga and Philosophy, philosophers explore the momentous issues and the fascinating puzzles raised by Marvel's compelling series of movies: Is the Thanos snap truly an answer to overpopulation and famine, or is it simply indefensible mass murder on a cosmic scale? Are the Avengers who try to stop Thanos dishing out justice or merely fighting a man who is himself just? 

Captain America or Tony Stark-which leader holds the key to a civilised society? Dr. Strange claims to sees 14,000,605 possible futures, in one of which Thanos is defeated. What does this tell us about the true nature of reality? Sometimes your best just isn't enough. How can we cope with inevitability? How can the Soul Stone and the Binding of Isaac by Abraham help us understand the Infinity War saga? Is Thanos a utilitarian? And if so, is his utilitarian calculus logically sound? Would it be possible for a group like the Avengers to amass enormous power to fight for humankind, without themselves becoming a corrupt ruling class? Can the past Nebula shooting the future Nebula cause her to cease to exist? Can you change the future by communicating with yourself or your family in the past? Can Thanos be seen as the epitome of non-self-serving behaviour, or is Thanos masking his own egoism with the lie that his altruistic mission is to bring the universe into balance? Does Thanos show us the danger of living by an absolute moral compass, which allows us to see only what we believe to be "the right" with no variations or nuances?