Batman the Noble Dog: The Costs of Spiritedness for the Individual and Society

Abstract

Batman’s self-imposed mission to rid Gotham City of its criminal element has always presented the problem of vigilantism. From the perspective of criminology, Batman’s methods raise the problem of whether society can be governed, or govern itself, with extralegal law enforcement. The problem presented by Batman’s behavior is often stated, as the ancient Roman satirist Juvenal famously put it, “quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” (“but who is going to guard the guards themselves?”). The threat posed by self-appointed guardians, such as Batman and other super heroes, has been frequently analyzed by scholars and fans alike. Yet, there is an additional, less frequently discussed, problem presented by Batman’s behavior: what are the costs to Batman and the citizens of Gotham from a guard who refuses to govern? In this chapter, the authors discuss Plato’s conception of spiritedness and analyze how Batman’s behavior affects his soul and the souls of Gotham City’s citizens. The authors suggest that the cost of moral relativism in defining justice leads to a passion for revenge without the responsibility of leadership. The costs to the souls of Batman and Gothamites render all too willing to subordinate justice to revenge and be prisoners of their own sense of right and wrong.