Summary of "Heroes and Superheroes" by Jeph Loeb and Tom Morris
In this article the authros first choose to establish by defnition what a hero and a superhero is. They wrote that there is a rule that all superheroes must had powers and abilities beyond those of ordinary people and they also have good moral values and character traits. The authors then rebuke the idea that "superhero" is an oxymoron because super powers make superheroes less heroic in that they risk less. The authors claimed that the third definition of hero:"a man admired for achievement and noble qualities" applies to superheroes. The authors then discuss the plethora of heroes in our daily lives which behave the way they do without much recognition or thanks. They said that superheroes stand out because of their altruistic activism and dedication to what is good rather than their outfits and powers. Loeb and Morris defined a superhero as "a hero with superhuman powers, or at least with human ablities that have been developed to a superhuman level." The authors then describe how to be a hero. They stress that a superheroes sacrifice makes them all the more heroic. They then say that superheroes help demonstrate common fears and problems with average humans that can be related to the problems superheroes face. The authors conclude the article by writing of examples of superheroes and how they can help regular peopl live moral and virtuous lives.
