‘Morality was a matter of doing our duty just because it was our duty and for no other
reason whatever’ (Mill, J.S. 1987 pg 23). It’s all about doing the right thing. Even if
it’s something we may not agree upon, it’s right for rights sake.
By interlinking the approaches with Batman we ask ourselves, was his decision to go
out and save the city of Gotham a good idea? Batman made a promise after
witnessing the murders of his parents in the 1939 Bob Kane and Bill Finger version
of the Batman story, ‘and I swear by the spirits of my parents to avenge their deaths
by warring all criminals’ (White, 2007: 88). In relation to recent utilitarian Peter Singer
(1946 - ), ‘if it’s in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without
thereby sacrificing anything comparable moral importance, we out to, morally, do it’
(White,D. Mark 2008). The promise will only be valid if it maximises the good.
Utilitarian also addresses ‘moral sense’, which is principally ‘everyone, has a natural
sense of compassion when encountering someone who is suffering…we have a
moral sense to restore their happiness.’ As mentioned in Thompsons ‘an introduction
to philosophy and ethics’ (2008 pg 161). According to this, utilitarian’s will say that it
was right for Batman to make that promise because his priority is to get rid of evil.
Furthermore create happiness for the majority so no one has to go through what he
did. The only way he could put end to evil is to fight crime.
On the other hand Deontologists perspective of making the promise is an element of
Kant’s’ Pure practical reason’ theory, ‘positive act we take in order to shape our
world as we think is right; it is the act of our will…’ (Thompson, 2008: 168). Out of the
three forms available one of them is the Maxim, which is ‘a subjective principle of
action, that is, a principle on which a man in fact acts’ (Wolff, R. Paul 1968 pg230)
based on the ‘universal law’, meaning, someone can make a rule for themselves, but
can only use it if they can apply it to everyone. So Batman’s decision to fight all evil
and get rid of crimes will be of his goodwill if it can be universalised. So if he can
fight crime then so should others. Both moral ethics agree upon Batman’s decision
to fight crime and keeping his promise. Even with these agreements, both agree but
on different angles on Batman’s decision to become who he is today. Deontologists
will view this in aspects of his intentions. It doesn’t matter if the outcome of his
actions fails, he will be praised upon his goodwill and intention and not be viewed as
immoral. Where as utilitarian’s fought on the idea of the results of the action. If an act
was done with selfish intentions however, the outcome made others happy, that’s all
that would matter.
Progressing onto Batman’s view on killing, or even not killing. Batman’s response for
not killing the Joker, (White, D Mark. 2008 pg 8) ‘if he ever kills it will make him as
bad as the criminals that he fights’. He rejects the idea of becoming like the criminals
who killed his parents. Even though killing the Joker will most likely eliminate the
chances others getting murdered, it’s the pure fact that killing is immoral. This has
strong emphasis on the moral ethics of deontology. Deontologists do not kill.
Whether it’s a murderer or not the universal law states that killing is morally wrong,
‘ends never justify the means…’ (Batman and philosophy 2008). Kant, ‘insists that
any human being can properly be called a persons knows his actions should satisfy,
not only the legality (objective correctness), but also the requirement of morality
(subjective worthiness)) from Wolff, R. Paul. Critical essays (pg 316).
Batman is committed to doing what is right because it is right, ‘though he is very
open about his strong desire to kill the Joker.’ (White. D Mark 2008 pg8). So does
that mean his intentions are not pure? According to deontologists whether the
outcome is right or wrong, if the intention isn’t pure, and is of vengeance it is
considered Immoral. So how will Batman’s decision not to kill the villains be seen in
utilitarian aspect? Utilitarian’s are very much against killing, obviously with
exceptions unlike deontologists. One must kill if it maximizes happiness, and stops
future killings. Utilitarian weakness of their ethic maybe that it’s all about the results
and no one can always predict the results. In Batman Begins Rachel Dawes says to
Batman: "It's not who you are on the inside, but what you do, that defines you."
()
This suggests it doesn’t matter what his intentions maybe, it’s the results that will
become his identity. This is a very clear utilitarian outlook on making the right
choices to maximize happiness.
If Batman had killed the Joker then thousands of lives could have been saved.
Clearly the anger felt by one man’s death is much less than the anger felt by
thousands of deaths. For example, the terror attacks on the twin towers, if Batman
had known about the terrorists then killed them when given the opportunity, the
anger wouldn’t been as immense as it was felt for the thousands that died on
September 11th. We can see that a utilitarian would clearly say that killing the Joker
is morally the right decision. Yet we can imagine a scenario where by removing the
Joker, another villain will claim his place, and still the same people are killed. If
Batman had killed the original 9/11 terrorists would someone else have taken their
place?
Taking into account another ethical theory to get a better understanding of Batman’s
morals in contrast to deontology and utilitarianism. One of many ethical morals in
White, .D Marks 2008 Batman and philosophy book include, virtue ethics, ‘which
emphasizes general character traits...rather than judging specific acts.’ (pg21). So
we have already noticed a contrast to deontology and utilitarianism. Virtue ethics will
look at Batman in aspects of his character (and his culture) than the actions he takes
whereas deontologists and utilitarianism emphasizes on the actions itself. So not
everyone can become a Batman, ‘society demands different roles from each of us’
(2008 pg 21).Virtue ethics does believe that everyone has their own role in society,
some may have the authority in society to use force against others e.g. police.
Virtues ethics will agree that Batman’s decision to become a crime fighter was
correct because his society needed that, but a deeper understanding is required in
order to recognise Batman’s position in society to kill another.
After reviewing the essay both ethical theories have been compared and contrasted
in terms of their beliefs and whether the choices that Batman has made was correct.
Despite the strengths and weakness in both theories, from a personal view Batman’s
duty as a crime fighter is to take any action necessary to prevent unnecessary death
of an innocent human being. Though we hope imprisonment would satisfy this duty,
in this case it cannot. This leaves us with only one other option that might take to
help prevent civilian deaths; killing the Joker. Taking everything into account is
Batman a utilitarian or deontologist? Majority of his decisions that he makes, makes
him a decent deontologist. From his promise to make Gotham a safe place, to not
killing anyone even a criminal, it all fits well with ‘duty-based’ deontologist. He makes
his choices due to the fact it’s the right thing to do. He knows that he doesn’t have
the right to take another humans life, no matter how bad the other person is.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bentham, Jeremy. (1948) An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation. New York: Hafner
Brooker, W. (2000) Batman unmasked: analyzing a cultural icon. USA: the continuum publishing group.
J.S. Mill and Jeremy Bentham. (1987) Utilitarianism and other essays. Harmondsworth: Penguin
Singer, P. (1993) Practical ethics. 2nd edition. USA: Cambridge university press.
Thompson, M. (2008) An introduction to philosophy and ethics. 2nd edition. London: Hodder education
White, Mark. D (2008) Batman and philosophy. New Jersey: john Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Wolff, Robert Paul. (1968) Kant: a collection of critical essays. London; Melbourne: Macmillan
(accessed: 23 Dec 2008).
