A barely-coherent rambling through some thoughts that keep churning in my head on the subjects of virtue, morality, and truth.
Throughout my life, I have been presented with many individuals who are supposed to be idolized as heroes. Politicians, law enforcers, lawbreakers, revolutionaries, religious figures, heretics, scientists, explorers, an more have all been presented as ideals I should admire and aspire to emulate. But there are some glaring inconsistencies with these groups of figures.
Lawmakers and law enforcers legislate and enact the bad laws that dissidents and protesters are admired for violating. Politicians declare the unjust wars that soldiers obey orders to wage, and resistance fighters are celebrated. That is, unless these revolutionaries happen to oppose the policies being imposed by the government that claims to govern me, of course. Yet I am expected to thank police and soldiers for their "service," and revere political figures. How does this make sense?
Why are there exceptions and excuses for some governments, but none for others, when the same injustices are being committed? Why are some rebels celebrated, while others demonized? Popular culture is full of rebels, freedom fighters, whistleblowers, and outlaws who are celebrated and presented as heroes, but in my daily life I see the same kind of people on the news portrayed as dangerous threats to civilization.
Historical figures are either sanctified or demonized before being presented in history books. It's like a bad comic book caricature of good vs. evil in every conflict. Compounding this is the problem of cursory overviews presented as serious historical discussion. In-depth study of history reveals that what I was taught was almost entirely worthless. Names and dates mean nothing without context and serious analysis. Is there a solution to this epidemic of over-simplification being presented as education?
It seems to be a human instinct to imagine that there are Great Men who warrant a religious level of worship, and whose who serve the Great Men are champions to be admired, but this is antithetical to society, civilization, and progress. Merely enforcing laws, participating in military actions, or enacting legislation does not constitute heroism.
Who would I suggest as heroes? Runaway slaves who took risk to gain freedom, the operators of the Underground Railroad network who broke bad laws in the interest of justice, explorers who push the frontiers of knowledge or geography, and entrepreneurs who take risks to develop new products and services for the market. I would argue that a hero is one who strives for virtue in spite of circumstance, accepts personal risk in pursuit of his goals instead of seeking to externalize those costs, and/or expands the sum of human knowledge.
I advocate making a conscious effort to avoid hero worship. Heroes and villains alike are flawed humans, and their humanity must be considered. An individual's intentions and actions must both be considered, flaws must be openly discussed, and idolization must be avoided. Think critically about anyone you are told to admire. By all means, admire virtue wherever it is found, but do not assume that all who claim virtue have it, and never forget that the greatest virtue is found where you least expect to find it.