Comments on: “I do not believe in the immortality of the individual, and I consider ethics to be an exclusively human concern without any superhuman authority behind it.” – Albert Einstein http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/do-not-believe-in-the-immortality-of-the-individual-and-i-consider-ethics-to-be-an-exclusively-human-concern-without-any-superhuman-authority-behind-it-albert-einstein/2008/08/05/ Kevin Church writes things. Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:16:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dan Coyle http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/do-not-believe-in-the-immortality-of-the-individual-and-i-consider-ethics-to-be-an-exclusively-human-concern-without-any-superhuman-authority-behind-it-albert-einstein/2008/08/05/comment-page-1/#comment-729 Dan Coyle Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:21:22 +0000 http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/?p=3977#comment-729 And where, exactly, have those generalizations gotten us in the past 40 years? And where, exactly, have those generalizations gotten us in the past 40 years?

]]> By: Dayv http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/do-not-believe-in-the-immortality-of-the-individual-and-i-consider-ethics-to-be-an-exclusively-human-concern-without-any-superhuman-authority-behind-it-albert-einstein/2008/08/05/comment-page-1/#comment-713 Dayv Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:27:09 +0000 http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/?p=3977#comment-713 <i>What both left and right see in TDK is to play out their similar fantasy: that the common man, the middle class, is full of worthless little ingrates who deserve whatever misery is visited upon them.</i> Generalizations are never wrong. What both left and right see in TDK is to play out their similar fantasy: that the common man, the middle class, is full of worthless little ingrates who deserve whatever misery is visited upon them.

Generalizations are never wrong.

]]> By: Rjackson http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/do-not-believe-in-the-immortality-of-the-individual-and-i-consider-ethics-to-be-an-exclusively-human-concern-without-any-superhuman-authority-behind-it-albert-einstein/2008/08/05/comment-page-1/#comment-708 Rjackson Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:13:43 +0000 http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/?p=3977#comment-708 Great counterpoint to the junk that's out there (both left and right). You hit it on the head and succinctly lay it out in a way that I was having difficulty explaining to some knuckleheads I know. Thanks Great counterpoint to the junk that’s out there (both left and right). You hit it on the head and succinctly lay it out in a way that I was having difficulty explaining to some knuckleheads I know. Thanks

]]> By: Mike C http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/do-not-believe-in-the-immortality-of-the-individual-and-i-consider-ethics-to-be-an-exclusively-human-concern-without-any-superhuman-authority-behind-it-albert-einstein/2008/08/05/comment-page-1/#comment-706 Mike C Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:42:17 +0000 http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/?p=3977#comment-706 "At the end, a new status quo emerges that is, if anything, more chaotic for the principals than what the film started with, despite the extraordinary methods used and sacrifices made. In many ways, you could say that The Joker won because he’s pushed Gotham into a more paranoid state than ever, something a terrorist would want. Batman’s actions, while saving countless lives and keeping the city together, are merely a band-aid on much larger problems that the character will have to face in the future." I think people are really oversimplifying by holding up certain story beats and character choices as conservative (or otherwise) propaganda. The above quoted really sums up what excites me about the prospect for a third movie: Batman (AND Gordon, since he can't publicly support him, or even be seen with him) really has his back against the wall, and it will be very interesting to see how he reacts to it. “At the end, a new status quo emerges that is, if anything, more chaotic for the principals than what the film started with, despite the extraordinary methods used and sacrifices made. In many ways, you could say that The Joker won because he’s pushed Gotham into a more paranoid state than ever, something a terrorist would want. Batman’s actions, while saving countless lives and keeping the city together, are merely a band-aid on much larger problems that the character will have to face in the future.”

I think people are really oversimplifying by holding up certain story beats and character choices as conservative (or otherwise) propaganda. The above quoted really sums up what excites me about the prospect for a third movie: Batman (AND Gordon, since he can’t publicly support him, or even be seen with him) really has his back against the wall, and it will be very interesting to see how he reacts to it.

]]> By: Jim Kakalios http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/do-not-believe-in-the-immortality-of-the-individual-and-i-consider-ethics-to-be-an-exclusively-human-concern-without-any-superhuman-authority-behind-it-albert-einstein/2008/08/05/comment-page-1/#comment-705 Jim Kakalios Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:48:08 +0000 http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/?p=3977#comment-705 <blockquote>"I love that a summer blockbuster can’t be reduced to talking points by either side, no matter how much they try. In a time where the news, politicians, and most entertainment bombards us with left/right, right/wrong, and good/bad, it’s refreshing to have a movie - a superhero movie at that - contradict that sort of thinking by giving viewers something more than spectacle."</blockquote> To paraphrase Nicholson's Joker from the 1980's Batman: Wait'll they get a load of Watchmen!

“I love that a summer blockbuster can’t be reduced to talking points by either side, no matter how much they try. In a time where the news, politicians, and most entertainment bombards us with left/right, right/wrong, and good/bad, it’s refreshing to have a movie – a superhero movie at that – contradict that sort of thinking by giving viewers something more than spectacle.”

To paraphrase Nicholson’s Joker from the 1980′s Batman:

Wait’ll they get a load of Watchmen!

]]> By: Dan Coyle http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/do-not-believe-in-the-immortality-of-the-individual-and-i-consider-ethics-to-be-an-exclusively-human-concern-without-any-superhuman-authority-behind-it-albert-einstein/2008/08/05/comment-page-1/#comment-704 Dan Coyle Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:19:30 +0000 http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/?p=3977#comment-704 What both left and right see in TDK is to play out their similar fantasy: that the common man, the middle class, is full of worthless little ingrates who deserve whatever misery is visited upon them. It's bullshit, but it keeps them warm. What both left and right see in TDK is to play out their similar fantasy: that the common man, the middle class, is full of worthless little ingrates who deserve whatever misery is visited upon them.

It’s bullshit, but it keeps them warm.

]]> By: mightygodking http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/do-not-believe-in-the-immortality-of-the-individual-and-i-consider-ethics-to-be-an-exclusively-human-concern-without-any-superhuman-authority-behind-it-albert-einstein/2008/08/05/comment-page-1/#comment-702 mightygodking Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:03:40 +0000 http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/?p=3977#comment-702 <i>Hell, at my game store people have been debating since the movie came out what Batman and Joker’s D&D alignment would be!</i> Batman's alignment is Batman. DUH. Hell, at my game store people have been debating since the movie came out what Batman and Joker’s D&D alignment would be!

Batman’s alignment is Batman. DUH.

]]> By: Brian http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/do-not-believe-in-the-immortality-of-the-individual-and-i-consider-ethics-to-be-an-exclusively-human-concern-without-any-superhuman-authority-behind-it-albert-einstein/2008/08/05/comment-page-1/#comment-697 Brian Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:50:21 +0000 http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/?p=3977#comment-697 Damn straight. *adds to the applause* Damn straight. *adds to the applause*

]]> By: Ken Lowery http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/do-not-believe-in-the-immortality-of-the-individual-and-i-consider-ethics-to-be-an-exclusively-human-concern-without-any-superhuman-authority-behind-it-albert-einstein/2008/08/05/comment-page-1/#comment-696 Ken Lowery Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:30:23 +0000 http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/?p=3977#comment-696 *applause* *applause*

]]> By: Mel http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/do-not-believe-in-the-immortality-of-the-individual-and-i-consider-ethics-to-be-an-exclusively-human-concern-without-any-superhuman-authority-behind-it-albert-einstein/2008/08/05/comment-page-1/#comment-695 Mel Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:25:37 +0000 http://www.beaucoupkevin.com/blog/?p=3977#comment-695 Very well written. This is why I love Batman cause it can spark so much discussion even weeks after the movie. Hell, at my game store people have been debating since the movie came out what Batman and Joker's D&D alignment would be! Very well written. This is why I love Batman cause it can spark so much discussion even weeks after the movie. Hell, at my game store people have been debating since the movie came out what Batman and Joker’s D&D alignment would be!

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