Honors Theses

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Completion

5-2025

Academic Year

2024-2025

Department

Interdisciplinary

Academic Major

Interdisciplinary Studies

Second Academic Major

Theological Studies

Faculty Advisor

Russell Keck, Ph.D.

Abstract

For more than eighty years, the Batman character has exhibited a unique synthesis of major theories of Justice, and through his experiences as a vigilante, exemplified the pursuit of the ideal virtue of Justice. Because virtue requires a lived example to be understood, Batman is one of the foundational stories fulfilling this need for one of America’s prominent pillars. Within the horror of Gotham City–a corrupt, fictional society–Batman’s actions as a vigilante, walking a tightrope to maintain morality even above the law might not only be justified, but necessary. The Batman’s nature, balancing ethical theories and maintaining hope in the dark, encourages seeking ideal Justice even as perfection lies permanently out of reach due to human fallibility, while the sidelines of his narrative–characters, situations, and moral codes–showcase the scale of Justice from ideal good to chaotic evil to illustrate how close to the ideal society and individuals should seek to fall. Rather than condemning the questionable means of this major pop-culture figure, this paper identifies the justification of his actions by his intentions, and supports his relevance in a society grappling for perfect Justice.

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