Perhaps one of the most notable superheroes is Spider-Man, who continues to ensnare generations of audiences in the web of his geeky charm and all around feel good acts of heroism top this day. He first appeared in comics in 1962 and has since been featured in them countless times as well as having a prevalent screen presence as of 2002, when the first movie premiered. Spider-Man is the superhero alter-ego of Peter Parker, a geeky high school science whizz who is bullied by jocks and overlooked by the girl of his dreams. While on a field trip, Peter sustains a bite from a genetically modified spider and almost instantly experiences changes to his DNA including heightened sensory awareness and the ability to climb walls.
With limited knowledge of his powers, Parker decides to try his hand at cage fighting, using his new-found speed and agility to best men thrice his size. When he goes to claim the prize money Peter is cheated out of his winnings, and shortly after he leaves a man comes in behind him and steals the cash. Peter does nothing to stop the thief and so aids in his escape. The movie …show more content…
By this definition, Utilitarian’s are consequentialists; they believe an act is morally right if it maximizes good, or the total amount of good the action brings about is greater than the total amount of bad (source). This claim can be summarized in the slogan that an act is right if and only if it causes “the greatest happiness for the greatest number.” Per Utilitarianism, Peter Parker does the right thing by acting as Spider-Man when his doing so produces the most good, which is determined by the amount of happiness that results from his acts of heroism. This view is appealing because it appears to offer insight into the core of morality; indeed, it seems correct that the right action must be the one that brings about the most
With limited knowledge of his powers, Parker decides to try his hand at cage fighting, using his new-found speed and agility to best men thrice his size. When he goes to claim the prize money Peter is cheated out of his winnings, and shortly after he leaves a man comes in behind him and steals the cash. Peter does nothing to stop the thief and so aids in his escape. The movie …show more content…
By this definition, Utilitarian’s are consequentialists; they believe an act is morally right if it maximizes good, or the total amount of good the action brings about is greater than the total amount of bad (source). This claim can be summarized in the slogan that an act is right if and only if it causes “the greatest happiness for the greatest number.” Per Utilitarianism, Peter Parker does the right thing by acting as Spider-Man when his doing so produces the most good, which is determined by the amount of happiness that results from his acts of heroism. This view is appealing because it appears to offer insight into the core of morality; indeed, it seems correct that the right action must be the one that brings about the most