What is heroism (definition)? True and false heroism

In the arsenal of the modern film industry, unfortunately or fortunately, there is simply a staggering number of the most diverse examples of true heroism, to which the younger generation is equal and admired by more or less impressionable representatives of the human race. Unsurpassed Sandra Bullock, for example, alone survives in open space, Hugh Laurie in the image of Dr. House saves an endless number of lives from lupus, and the all-powerful Terminator returns to Earth once again to solve all its pressing problems.

Approximately the same thing happens with modern literature. Take, for example, one of the latest bestsellers - Andy Weyer's book "The Martian", which is an adaptation of the long-habitual reading world population of the Robinsonade. Or the famous "Song of Ice and Flame" cruel and merciless to his heroes George Martin - all this is written about the heroes.

Salvation of the world

The question "what is heroism?" At first glance seems rather stupid and useless. Most people will be able to answer it without a single second of thought and reasoning. In fact - why excessive philosophizing, if the idea of the heroes, first, for each his own, and secondly, is invested each with the earliest years of tales, songs, cartoons and masterpieces of cinema?

So, what is heroism for modern man? By and large, this is the totality of the qualities necessary to accomplish a good cause like saving the world, curing a terrible virus that turns everyone into a zombie or solving the problem of racial inequality. In a word, for most people examples of heroism are inextricably linked to such a global mission.

Spiritistic session for communication with the ancient Greeks

As you know, it is in Hellas that the cradle of modern world culture is located, and therefore who else knows exactly what heroism is, how not to the ancient Greeks? The fact is that if you look in detail at the ancient mythology, you can notice the fact that it's all about gods, people, and as you might guess, heroes. Who were they for legislators of philosophy and trends in art and architecture?

The answer is very simple: in the mind of the ancient Greek, the hero is a being born of God and man. According to a well-known myth, this was Hercules or Hercules, as the ancient Romans later called it. He was born an earthly woman named Alkmena from the supreme god Olympus named Zeus, also known as the Thunderer.

Another embodiment of heroism for the ancient Hellenes was the famous Achilles, born of the sea goddess Thetis from King Peleus. Odysseus, although not born of God, was still his descendant - the genealogical tree of this mythological character dates back to Hermes, the guide of souls to the afterlife and the patron of travelers.

What is the heroism of the ancient Greeks? In addition to unconditional participation in deeds, it is also a special origin, some proximity to the divine beginning, with the possible exception of immortality, which neither Hercules nor Odysseus nor, as you know, Achilles possessed.

Comics-culture

For any self-respecting American there is also a slightly different idea of heroes and heroism. In this case, we are talking about representatives of the human race, endowed with super-abilities for one reason or another. Numerous brainchilds studios MARVEL and DC comics today literally do not go off the screens around the world.

For most modern children, real examples of heroism are the accomplishments of Iron Man, Batman, Captain America, Wolverine, and a whole legion of other possessors of supernatural qualities.

Heroes of the Slavs

However, the assumption that outstanding actions are characteristic only for representatives of the western culture will be incorrect. Despite the fact that it was the foreign Avengers, Gladiators and Terminators that flooded the consciousness of the whole world, in Slavic culture there are also many examples of such good-looking guys.

Speech in this case is about the glorious heroes such as Dobryni Nikitich, Alyosha Popovich and Svyatogor, which for some reason everyone safely began to forget. However, even if you omit the traditional Slavic folklore, always remain the famous dog Mukhtar and Uncle Stepa.

Seriously speaking

True and false heroism is found in the modern world practically at every step. Great achievements sometimes take place around the corner, and a tiny trifle inflates to a global scale.

The difference between true and false heroism among themselves, the question is quite philosophical, since everyone has his own idea on this score. For some, the truth lies in the unselfishness of one or another act, while others differentiate these concepts for themselves by measuring the scale.

In any case, contrary to popular belief, heroism in our time exists, and it is by no means due to supernatural abilities or special origin.

To live and die in the name of children

You could start the gallery of outstanding acts with anyone, but some actions are especially worthy not to be forgotten. Outstanding teacher and Man with a capital letter Janusz Korczak literally gave his life to his pupils. Once in the Warsaw ghetto, he organized an orphanage, in which 192 children of different ages took refuge.

In inhuman conditions, Korczak continued to treat, educate and teach children, no matter what, trying to find any possibility of saving their wards. Since at that time all the "unproductive elements" were eliminated by the Hitlerites, the orphanage as a whole was sent to the "death camp" in Treblinka. The pedagogical skill of Korczak was so great that it brought him pardon, but the teacher refused the ticket for freedom and spent the most terrible last hours with the children. Together with assistant Stefania Vilchinskaya and pupils, Janusz Korczak took a martyr's death in a gas chamber.

A voice for a thousand voices

What would American democracy be now, if the great Martin Luther King did not say the famous speech "Do I have a dream"?

Thousands of people followed their leader to protect their civil rights and dignity.

Among the fight and blood

Heroism in war is a thing that seems to be normal, but not when you are six. It was at this age that Sergei Aleshkov, who participated in the defense of Stalingrad, who reached Poland, who saved his commander, fell into the ranks of Soviet fighters during the Great Patriotic War. A boy who, before his time became an adult, survived in one of the most terrible times in the history of mankind.

Nevertheless, heroism in the war is by no means always a willingness to shoot at the enemy to defeat or to rush under tanks to save a partner. Sometimes it's just the ability to remain human in the most inhuman conditions, when the facets of good and evil become particularly subtle.

Depth of value

What is heroism? The definition of this term, though it seems simple, allows a huge number of interpretations. This is the first flight of Yuri Gagarin into space and the education of his own child during the war, this is a donation of all the capital to improve the quality of life in the countries of the third world and the readiness to come to the aid of a friend in a critical situation.

For someone, a real example of heroism is the feat of Ramazi Datiashvili, a young microsurgeon who returned his three-year-old Race, cut off by a harvester.

Immortalized in books

Heroism in literature has found simply a huge number of reflections, beginning with the classics and ending with modern prose. For example, Markus Zuzak in his bestseller Book Knight described the real feat of a German family who sheltered a Jew in his basement in the midst of fascist Germany.

Perpetuated heroism in literature and Boris Pasternak, who wrote an immortal work, a real masterpiece of world classics, the novel Doctor Zhivago. In order to do good deeds, you do not need to have superpowers at all - it's enough just to be a person who believes in the best and is ready for any worldly misfortunes and troubles.