The main goal of this paper is to show how the film "Man of Steel" and the utilitarianism are deeply interconnected and how ethical dilemmas are taken up.
The goal of utilitarianism is to weigh the consequences of each committed act precisely and to select the course of action that leads to the greater amount of happiness and satisfaction for the greater number of people. However, this often ends in moral dilemmas, such as in Man of Steel. The question of the righteousness of the characters' actions in this film keeps cropping up and makes the viewer reflect on whether Superman's actions are morally justified.
With this in mind, I presume that the principle of utilitarianism runs like a golden thread through the entire film, and that almost all characters in Man of Steel embody an attitude to utilitarianism, be it the protagonist Clark Kent himself, his stepfather Jonathan Kent, or the antagonist General Zod. I want to argue that the question of whether Superman should reveal himself to society and how to weigh the pros and cons of this issue plays a very important role in the film and represents the morality of each character.
I will analyze the movie in this regard in this paper, proving how Man of Steel deals with these issues and shows that the message is not the demonstration of pure action, but the study of the morality of the characters, the possession of superpowers and the question of when they are to be used.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The principle of utilitarianism in Man of Steel
- Man of Steel and the trolley problem
- Other examples of utilitarianism in Man of Steel
- Rule- and act- utilitarianism
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes the 2013 superhero film Man of Steel through the lens of utilitarianism, demonstrating how the film explores ethical dilemmas and the consequences of actions. It argues that the film utilizes the concept of utilitarianism to present a moral and philosophical perspective on Superman’s actions, particularly his decision to kill General Zod.
- The concept of utilitarianism and its application in the film Man of Steel
- The role of moral dilemmas and ethical choices in the film
- The implications of Superman’s actions and the consequences of utilizing his powers
- The moral complexities of choosing between individual happiness and the greater good of society
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction of the paper discusses the controversy surrounding Man of Steel, particularly regarding Superman’s decision to kill General Zod. The film’s director, Zack Snyder, is quoted as explaining his reasoning for this controversial choice, highlighting the moral dilemma presented in the film.
The second chapter focuses on the application of utilitarianism in the film. It explores the concept of utilitarianism as defined by John Stuart Mill and provides specific examples of how this principle is manifested in the actions of characters like General Zod, Jor-El, and Clark Kent.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key concepts and themes explored in this paper include utilitarianism, moral dilemmas, ethical choice, superhero narratives, Man of Steel, Superman, General Zod, and the consequences of power.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2018, "Man of Steel" and Utilitarianism. A Philosophical Perspective, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1025683
