The Peter Parker Principle

When I was a kid I used to read superhero comic books. I still do as a 56 year old man, from time to time. And every few semesters I teach an entire class of Introduction to Philosophy at City College based on a close study of superheroes understood as the modern equivalent of ancient myths, offering us plenty to think about in terms of ethics, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and so forth.

One of my favorite superheroes of all time is Spider-Man, aka Peter Parker. He’s a shy, usually penniless, bright young man with a penchant for science. Peter is an orphan, living with his uncle Ben and his aunt May. One day he is bitten by a radioactive spider, and as a result develops spider-like superpowers: a super-strength, super-speed, the ability to climb vertical surfaces, a tingling sense of imminent danger. His abilities as a chemist allow him to augment his newly founded powers with a type of highly flexible and very strong webbing, which he shoots from two wrist devices he has crafted.

Initially, Peter thinks that his powers can be turned into cash, for instance by signing up as a boxer and beating the crap out of guys who appear to be far more strong than he is. One day, however, Peter makes the greatest mistake of his life: he has a chance to stop a robber but does not intervene, thinking that it is none of his business. The escaped robber goes on to kill uncle Ben, and…