What Makes a Hero?

[the Jester]

A hero is one who does the right thing, because it is the right thing, even if it personally inconveniences (or, sometimes, even destroys) him.

 

[Death_Jester]

Hero's do the right thing because it is the right thing to do irregardless of risk to one's own life or position. A powerful sense of moral duty drives heroes to do the right thing. The right thing is often obvious, but it can't just be the individual's personal opinion on what is the right thing to do, but a universal idea of the right thing to do.

snip*

I would say a very important trait of heroes is a powerful sense of moral duty.

This gets to the heart of the matter. A Hero moves to a higher calling pulled by invisible strings that compel the person either internally or externally to do what needs to be done because it is the universally good thing to do overall. Not some realivistic thought process that they use to deduce the most preferable outcome of a given situation. I believe (and it may just be me spouting my own opinions here) that there is some instinctive understanding of what is universally right, at least to the hero.

Not for fame, glory or the cheering crowds but because it is "right" and as Celtavian observers not just the subjective right thing but the universally right thing to do.

Would anyone disagree with that statement? If you do please let me know why and how the thought may be wrong.

Now can anyone help define what is the universally right thing to do? Or is this something that is situational and can only be chosen from circumstance to circumstance?

Let me lay one more defination on you from the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary.

Main Entry: mor·al
Pronunciation: 'mor-&l, 'mär-
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin moralis, from mor-, mos custom
1 a : of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior : ETHICAL <moral judgments> b : expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior <a moral poem> c : conforming to a standard of right behavior d : sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment <a moral obligation> e : capable of right and wrong action <a moral agent>
2 : probable though not proved : VIRTUAL <a moral certainty>
3 : having the effects of such on the mind, confidence, or will <a moral victory> <moral support>
- mor·al·ly /-&-lE/ adverb
synonyms MORAL, ETHICAL, VIRTUOUS, RIGHTEOUS, NOBLE mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good. MORAL implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong <the basic moral values of a community>. ETHICAL may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity <committed to the highest ethical principles>. VIRTUOUS implies the possession or manifestation of moral excellence in character <not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless>. RIGHTEOUS stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious <wished to be righteous before God and the world>. NOBLE implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character <had the noblest of reasons for seeking office>.

Look at definitions 1 a-c all of these seem to point back to the code of behavior that we have already discussed for the hero. Does anyone disagree with that thought if so what would be the argument that they are wrong or misrepresented?

Let me know because you people have my mind racing overtime to sort out all the information.

Thanks for all your time and energy.