Batman & Kant: Comix, Science & Technology

14 October, 2022 News

The Applied Philosophy Research Lab of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is organizing 3 presentations that deal with various moral, philosophical, and ecological questions in a future where the fate of mankind seems to be controlled by the prevalence of science and technology. Each presentation briefly examines 3 different stories in comic book form and explores how, through the use of imagery and the narrative power of the comic medium, fundamental philosophical questions and timeless myths are revisited from a different perspective.

Presentation and coordination of the event: Achilleas Kleisouras

From the flying eye to the drones of Gotham: The restriction of basic freedoms construed as a prevention of crime

Mary Katarti

In a 1957 comic book story by Hamilton and Sprang entitled “The 1001 Inventions of Batman”, Gotham is depicted as a dark, dangerous and scary place. All sort of criminals prey upon the city and Batman is able to watch over and locate them by using the Flying Eye, an early version of contemporary drones. In a place considered to be evil does someone have the right to restrict basic human freedoms – regardless of how noble his intentions may be- in the name of keeping citizens safe?

4+1 philosophical and ecological lessons in the graphic novel “Bare Bones” (Γυμνά Οστά)

Panos Chrysopoulos

The graphic novel “Bare Bones” depicts a future in which the world has been destroyed by nuclear war and a highly developed robot of artificial intelligence ‘decides’ to make an alliance with a male human being. A being however, which remains human only on the outside, as every sense of justice and morality he might have held has been corrupted. Their drama of survival (along with four more lessons) become in effect a study of moral behavior and ecological awareness. By the end of these lessons, there might be hope that mankind actually has a chance!