Breaking Down the Importance of Heroes
Scott LaBarge's "Heroism: Why Heroes Are Important," was published on August 25, 2013, originally on the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University's website. He utilizes anecdote, logos, and pathos to explain "the critical moral contribution of heroes in the expansion of our sense of possibility." LaBarge writes this essay to persuade "teachers" and convince them to tell their students "what a difference people of courage and nobility and genius have made to the world."
LaBarge starts the creation of his essay with a personal anecdote analyzing "living deliberately" and why Henry David Thoreau became one of his "dearest heroes." Beginning the essay with such a personal reflection allows the reader to connect with him more. This personal anecdote begins LaBarge's point about heroes and why they are important. Scott LaBarge addresses a warning that Thoreau gave all philosophers and continues the quote with a humored prediction of his philosopher's response: "If – horrible thought – I should fail to earn tenure here, I would largely blame that damned quotation." This anecdote adds more personal feel to LaBarge's essay.
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From the description of heroes to those who one may choose as their hero. Hero, to Greeks, were "great benefactors of humankind" as well as those "who had committed unthinkable crimes." However, today "we only call heroes those whom we admire and wish to emulate." Without attempting to create a contrast, LaBarge takes the time to describe a few "heroes" and their reasons for being considered heroes. This allows the readers to compare whom people would classify as a hero today, to whom people would classify as a hero in 800 B.C. and 500
Heroes willfully put their own life in the place of someone else’s. In other words, a hero risks their life for another person because they wish to benefit the society they live in. This creates a more superior society for the
Immediately after LaBarge uses his personal experience and credibility, he begins to pull in factual evidence to prove his claims. He uses this practice to explain his opinion on heroes. LaBarge explains that in ancient Greece, the origin of the word for hero, a hero was a person that left an immortal memory behind when they died (LaBarge 1). LaBarge then uses this definition as a Segway into his own opinion, “We largely define our ideals by the heroes we choose, and our ideals -- things like courage, honor, and justice -- largely define us. … A person who chooses Martin Luther King or Susan B. Anthony as a hero is going to have a very different sense of what human excellence involves than someone who chooses, say, Paris Hilton, or the rapper 50 Cent,” (LaBarge 1). By stating facts of the topic LaBarge appeals to the audience’s sense of Logos, or logic, and makes his opinion seem more rational.
A hero is someone who is selfless and is courageous. They also are usually an ordinary person who later does something very heroic and great. They also don’t act like self centered when they get recognized for it. In the editorial “What is a Hero” by Art Green, he shares a story about a man who almost died saving others in battle. In this he says, “ In this case, Benavidez says that it was not he that was the hero; it was the faceless men who paid the ultimate sacrifice.” This evidence shows that Benavidez and heroes don’t “bask in the glory” and this impacts him because he knows that people died for their country and he also did two so he can’t take all the credit for saving the men. Roger Rosenblatt, author of the editorial “Man in the water”
The historical context of heroism, as LaBarge explains, is directly derived from ancient Greek mythology, which is crucial to the essay's argument. In an excerpt from the text, LaBarge further explains that “heroes were mortals who transcended the ordinary human experience, leaving an immortal legacy”. This historical background & understanding where heroes come from helps to show how significant they have been and
The definition of a hero has evolved over time through both written word and human experiences, so what is a hero? In the two epic passages "The Epic of Gilgamesh" and Homer's "Odyssey", "heroism" appears to be a clear distinction with the literature, and has the same basic framework as today’s definition of a hero. Historically, in the texts, heroes such as Gilgamesh and Odysseus are protagonists viewed and credited with great bravery and most certainly heroism. Nearly all of the heroic figures throughout time, both fictitious and living and are viewed as a protagonist in their own epic challenge or struggle when looked back upon. Though many core elements of histories hero are found in today’s and it is epic passages such as Odysseus and Gilgamesh that have played a part in shaping the characteristics and actions that shape today’s qualities of a modern hero.
Heros today can come from all different walks of life. They can be wealthy, poor, strong, or weak, but that was not always the case. Before the modern definition of a hero was introduced, which is someone who displays bravery and courage, there were every strict rules on who could be a hero. Sophocles was a Greek tragedy writer, who wrote Antigone. In this play, a girl named Antigone buries her brother Polyneices.
A hero can be viewed differently in many eyes. Author and lecturer Joseph Campbell, has correlated a hero as usually being a male, often of lowly birth, but with special powers or a higher birthright, the hero doesn’t know about. Also, the hero parents are often dead, absent, or uncaring, and the hero is judged by the actions he takes and the way he reacts and relates to people. In the opinions of others, a hero is also a person admired for bravery, great achievements, abilities or good qualities and is regarded as a role model. A hero is also, admired for having done something very courageous or having succeeded in something great. In literature, the hero is the main character of a story, play, or movie. In the textbook, The Norton Anthology
Since long ago, people carried an image of what it means to be a hero. It is evident in some great books one might even say. As in The Epic of Gilgamesh, Antigone, and The Iliad, heroism is displayed and exalted, but what does being a hero mean? Overarchingly, in regards to these works, the heroes earn their titles as heroes by notably doing what is right when the time is right, with humane purpose, and an everlasting message. However, Gilgamesh, Antigone, and Akhilleus, being different in their purposes, everlasting messages, type of heroism as whole, can not compare in regards to heroic status.
Heroes are those who have gone above what the average person would do to ensure the welfare of others. Natural disasters, terrorism, poverty, and war are some of the many things that destroy and end people’s lives. Throughout history, many people have made a difference. However, as history progresses, what we consider to be socially normal changes along with our definition of a hero. In Ancient Greece, Theseus, Hercules, and Perseus were considered heroes, but today only Theseus and Perseus would be considered heroes because Hercules would be shunned by society.
Heroism: Why Heroes are Important is a short essay by Scott LaBarge. In the essay, LaBarge is the narrator and tells a story his choice of becoming a philosopher. Inspiration came from one of his hero’s, Henry David Thoreau. Through pathos, logos, and ethos; LaBarge reveals what message society should learn. He not only informs the reader, but persuades them to think deeply and research who a hero is by using historical background information, an intended original audience, and emotional appeals to create an effective argument.
What makes a person a hero? The definition of a hero is “a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength.” Every society has a hero. There are the stereo typical heroes such as Superman and Hercules with supernatural powers and there are other heroes that help our societies, such as firemen, soldiers, or doctors. Two main heroes in ancient Greece are Beowulf and Sir Gawain. Beowulf and Sir Gawain have very similar characteristics; however there styles of heroism and moral codes are very different from each other.
Both Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1: The Lightning Thief and the Epic of Gilgamesh have heroes as their protagonists. Those protagonists, Percy Jackson and Gilgamesh, have similarities and differences, which can be used to see how humanity’s view of the concept of a hero has changed over the last three-thousand and two-hundred years. The differences in their qualifications for heroic qualities, both traditional and modern, highlights how humanity’s viewpoint of what it means to be a hero has changed. Way back when, in ancient Mesopotamia, a hero only needed to be a special guy that gods or goddesses took a special interest in. Nowadays, there are character requirements for being a hero, such as having the ability to emphasize with
A hero is someone who is admired for their noble qualities. For example Odysseus in the story has the necessary qualities to classify him as a hero. Odysseus shows determination throughout the book, his entire journey back from war is all determination to get home. He exhibits strength and great powers at many different points like, when he is killing the suitors. Odysseus is brave even when times are rough, he mostly can push through anything. These traits can be seen as heroic today because they all demonstrate not given up, pushing for what you want and persevering through the tough times. Odysseus is coming home from the Trojan War but faces many obstacles on his way home. Once he finally reaches Ithaca he reunites with his son,
The word heroism brings to mind different things to different people. This is because people tend to have different concepts of heroism and what it means. The definition of heroism has changed a lot since ancient times and will continue to change. Despite these changes, there are a few things about heroes that will never change. A hero can be described as a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Both ancient and modern day heroes are idealized for possessing these traits. Heroes, no matter from what time period, will always be powerful, strong, brave, and valued.
Heroes are viewed differently today as the average person who is admired for courage or outstanding achievements such as firemen and police officers. The ancient Greeks viewed heroes as those that acquire more than just courage, they must be strong and inspiring as well. Although Achilles proved to be several of these entities, the Iliad begins with