William Irwin > Quotes

“Why, Mr. Anderson?, Why, why?.

Why do you do it? Why, why get up?.


Why keep fighting?.


Do you believe you're fighting...for something?.

For more than your survival?.

Can you tell me what it is?.

Do you even know?; Is it freedom?, Or truth?.

Perhaps peace?. Could it be for love?


Illusions, Mr. Anderson.


Vagaries of perception.


Temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence that is without meaning or purpose.

And all of them as artificial as the Matrix itself, although... only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love.


You must be able to see it, Mr. Anderson.

You must know it by now, You can't win.

It's pointless to keep fighting.


Why, Mr. Anderson?.


Why?, Why do you persist?.




Agent Smith ( Matrix Revolutions Movie, 2003 ).”
― William Irwin, More Matrix and Philosophy: Revolutions and Reloaded Decoded

“justice hath no meaning lest it be tempered with mercy.”26”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“The computer-simulated dreamworld of the Matrix trilogy is a technological version of Descartes’s evil demon. In essence it represents the idea of a mind (the Architect) more powerful than our own that is intent on deceiving us whenever, and however, it sees fit.”
― William Irwin, Introducing Philosophy Through Pop Culture

“We all exist in a state of doubt even when we do not realize it.”
― William Irwin, God Is a Question, Not an Answer: Finding Common Ground in Our Uncertainty

“Luckily, literature—and by “literature” I mean comic books—provides us a way to discuss issues like these without having to experience them. We don’t have to trick people into standing in front of a runaway trolley, and we don’t have to have a real-life Batman and Joker. That’s what thought experiments are for—they let us play through an imaginary scenario and imagine what we should or shouldn’t do.”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“Superman’s cosmopolitan decision could be interpreted simply as DC Comics attempting to appeal to the global market for Superman stuff. Less cynically, though, one blogger said, “It’s refreshing to see an alien refugee tell the United States that it’s as important to him as any other country on Earth—which, in turn, is as important to Superman as any other planet in the multiverse.”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“Usually we think a person is obligated to do something that would benefit many people, but what if that “something” is committing murder? Which is more important, doing good—or not doing wrong?”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“two of the most fascinating yet troublesome topics in moral philosophy—forgiveness and redemption—issues that must be dealt with together. Without forgiveness there can be no redemption, and forgiveness that does not grant redemption is hollow.”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“Kant stated simply enough, “[Punishment] must always be inflicted upon [the criminal] only because he has committed a crime.”7 Punishment shouldn’t be meted out for the criminal’s own good, for example, for reformation or rehabilitation. This would be treating him like an animal, like a dog. Also, punishment shouldn’t be handed out for the good of society, such as for security, deterrence, or crime prevention or any other desirable end. The criminal shouldn’t be treated as a mere means; we shouldn’t use people for society’s ends, “for a human being can never be treated merely as a means to the purposes of another.”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“Rorschach did not seek death; he didn’t commit suicide by Manhattan. But he understood what the others did not. “It is better to sacrifice life than to forfeit morality. It is not necessary to live, but it is necessary that, so long as we live, we do so honourably.”18”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“Honor Is Like the Hawk . . . For my own part, regret nothing. Have lived life, free from compromise . . . and step into the shadow now without complaint. —Rorschach’s journal,”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“Atrocitus: You believe fear to be the most powerful force in the universe? Fear is inaction. Fear is hiding away. Fear is cowering and begging. Rage is action. Rage is spilling blood. Sinestro: Rage is uncontrollable.”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“a famous quote by Nietzsche, “Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster.”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“Facts and logical arguments no longer matter; people decide what to believe based on tribal alliances, on what they want to believe, or what they feel is true.”
― William Irwin, Black Mirror and Philosophy: Dark Reflections

“recorrer el camino de la propia realización puede convertirse en un doloroso deber moral.”
― William Irwin, los simpson y la filosofia

“See the world we come from. There's no green there. They killed their mother and they're gonna do the same here....I will stand and fight. You know I will. But I need a little help here.”
― William Irwin, Avatar and Philosophy: Learning to See

“As Rorschach so poetically put it, “This rudderless world is not shaped by vague metaphysical forces. It is not god who kills the children. Not fate that butchers them or destiny that feeds them to the dogs. It’s us. Only us.”12”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“One of the aims of Tantra is to recognize the divine perfection of the world by seeing it as a mandala "a celestial mansion.”
― William Irwin, Avatar and Philosophy: Learning to See

“when I see an author on this week’s talk show promoting his Secret to Happiness, I can’t help wondering what happened to last week’s Secret on the same show.”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“People who fight for a country just because they are paid to do so are mercenaries, and they have no problem switching sides if it serves their interests (Lex Luthor is a classic example).”
― William Irwin, Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture

“In Avatar Jake embarks on a journey of self-discovery and self-realization, advancing along a path that can map out with the aid of these seven main energy center chakras.”
― William Irwin, Avatar and Philosophy: Learning to See

“the word "avatar" comes from the Sanskrit noun avatāra derived from a verbal root that means to "cross over". Jake's avatar is what enables him to "cross over" from the mortal world to the sublime universe of Pandora”
― William Irwin, Avatar and Philosophy: Learning to See

“Alice’s message for today—in Wonderland and the world at large—is that young women can do anything they like.”
― William Irwin, Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy: Curiouser and Curiouser

“Although the truth exists objectively and independently of us, we can never be absolutely certain we grasp it.”
― William Irwin, God Is a Question, Not an Answer: Finding Common Ground in Our Uncertainty

“Jake Sully went from being a self-centered individual, only concerned with regaining the use of his legs, to being the defender of an entire world.”
― William Irwin, Avatar and Philosophy: Learning to See

“Red is not in the apple but in the perception.”
― William Irwin, God Is a Question, Not an Answer: Finding Common Ground in Our Uncertainty

“la vida a veces puede convertir las mejores intenciones en un infierno, especialmente cuando derivan de un impulso emocional.”
― William Irwin, los simpson y la filosofia