Sarah graduated SUNY Oneonta in 2019 with a dual degree in History and Philosophy. One of her fondest memories from college was interning with the APA during her senior year and traveling to Denver for the 2019 Conference. Currently, she is working in the Advancement Office at Sarah Lawrence College.
Do villains deserve mercy, or do they pose a threat just being left alive? Would you follow a firm no-kill policy like Batman? Or would you slip into grey areas where killing is permissible, like Iron Man?
I believe that villains deserve mercy, so I’d follow a firm no-kill policy like Batman, because there is a chance that, with a little compassion, an evil person can change their ways. If that’s not the case, keeping them alive to suffer the consequences is a more powerful punishment than just killing them. Superheroes are virtuous beings, so their actions must be virtuous. Killing is an immoral act, regardless of who is killed or why they are killed. By committing such an act, the superhero contradicts their moral character.
Would you rather be a superhero, or does being a supervillain appeal to you more? Why?
I would rather be a superhero because they serve as a role model for society through their virtuosity. Superheroes act selflessly through their utilitarian ethics which serves as a great precedent for how people should act in society. Similarly, superheroes are constantly challenged with difficult decisions, but their determination and resilience prevails in order to navigate through those dilemmas, both of which are great qualities we should aspire to have. Villain’s actions are inherently evil, self-serving, and intend to cause harm to people. While villains are free of the constraints of society, which may be appealing, I think doing good for humanity and bettering ourselves outweighs that kind of freedom and evil.
What philosophical advantages do you think superheroes have over supervillains, if any? Conversely, do villains benefit more from their lack of moral tethering?
Superheroes constantly strive to be virtuous, but I don’t think they have philosophical advantages over supervillains. Being a superhero is more gratifying because they strive to do good and uphold a just society, but in any superhero story, there is always a moral and ethical struggle. The superhero must decide between doing what they want to do because it’s what they feel is best versus doing what’s best for humanity. That struggle limits the superhero and their actions, so they lack the freedom to do what they want. On the other hand, villains don’t need to follow any moral guidelines because they act on their own free will and are free to do as they please.
Consider Heath Ledger’s Joker. His philosophy was complete and total chaos and anarchy. Is a lack of guiding morality more appealing than having one? Does having “rules”like Batman make one less free than the Joker, or does it make their life more worth living?
I think a lack of guiding morality is freeing because your actions are not bound to anything. You act on your free will and nothing else – you do not have to worry about how your actions may affect anyone or anything. Despite this freedom, I don’t think a lack of guiding morality is more appealing. Living without guiding moral principles is isolating because you live by your own rules without concern for others. Having guiding moral principles creates an environment where we can care for others and allow others to care for us. I think what makes life worth living is the human connection between one another through empathy, love, conversation, etc.
For fun, which superpower(s) would you like to have?
I would love to have the ability to teleport. You can travel anywhere in the world without the hassle or expenses of traveling. You can also teleport back in time and I think that would be interesting to actually see a historical event or time period.
This section of the APA Blog is designed to share student reflections. We’d love for you to be a part of it. If you’re a student and would like to submit a reflection, contact Dr. Sabrina D. MisirHiralall at sabrinamisirhiralall@apaonline.org.
Elyse Purcell
Elyse Purcell is an an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Philosophy Department at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oneonta. From 2017 to 2024 she served as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Central Division of the APA. Her research focuses on how various forms of disability present challenges for identity, moral personhood, virtue and social justice. Follow her research interests on Academia.edu.
Sean Petersen
Sean Petersen is a graduating English/Philosophy Major at SUNY Oneonta. He has presented at both English and Philosophy conferences and received academic achievement awards in both subjects. He aims to get his Master’s in Elementary Education and begin teaching. He is also a massive superhero nerd, and would probably be best friends with Spiderman.
