Moral Hero Essay

Socrates is among the most influential philosophers in the history of mankind. He was concerned about ethics and moral actions in the society. Some argue that Socrates is a moral hero while other refutes such claim. There are various aspects that any moral hero must possess. A noble hero has the moral courage to stand for and defend what is right even when such may hurt the person.
Miller (2005) quoting Socrates argues that courage is the endurance of the souls, wisdom, and fear (p. 11). A moral hero, therefore, display courage in ethical aspects such as showing prowess whereby one can die nobly i.e. the cause of the death is not disease or other common causes. Secondly, a moral hero is one who sacrifices pleasures of the body and the “sinful” peace to seek to uphold what is right, and is full of wisdom about what is happening around one. The quality and amount of pain a hero endures determines whether one is a moral hero or not. Third, a moral hero seeks to live a good life by upholding all the virtues as set by the society and overcomes fear to exercise injustices for personal gains i.e. takes responsibility for own mistakes.
Does Socrates meet the criteria of been a hero? While waiting for trial for impiety, an offer to help Socrates him escape from Athens and avoid the prosecution indicates how ethical a hero ought to be, as he turned it down. He refused to move citing that to do so is an injustice to his country and against his ethical standing. Such act is clear indication of a strong moral character that is beyond the personal gain. Given that a person full of cowardice would flee, it is arguable that Socrates was noble hero.
Secondly, Socrates had exhibited untamed courage by facing the laws of the country. His willingness not to flee and wait to take up the charge of his life including his mistakes indicates a moral courage that all cowards cannot possess. It is evidence that Socrates faced the accusation of impiety and instilling the youth with the rebellious spirit yet he did not wish to run away (“Ethics,” n.d). He accepted to stay in the society with all these accusations something that makes him a moral hero.
Third, during the trial, Socrates shows excellent wisdoms in his argument; fundamentally, most accused person would be seeking to defend their sinful ways other than upholding what is right. Socrates seeks to expose the moral issues facing all the persons in the court and by extension the society. He argues to bring to light the ill inherent in the society and desists from defending what is wrong. He asserted “The unexamined life is not worth living” indicating the moral principles that went beyond the norm. Therefore, Socrates meets all the criterion of a hero. He was full of wisdom, courage, and sacrificed his life to bring the greater good.
The life and works of Nelson Mandela depicts a hero on morals. Mandela had to serve a jail term for fighting for the freedom his country. Although he had options just as Socrates to seek asylum, Mandela did not but stayed in the country and ensured all the pain. He was captured and sentenced for decades and only gained his freedom after other freedom fighters kept the colonial government in check. After his release, Mandela took over the presidency of South Africa becoming the first democratically elected president. Many would have expected him to rule until his death. After one term, he handed over power to another person. Doing so showed that he had no greed, and he placed the good of the majority far above his.
Mandela was Wise, altruistic, brave, and full of integrity and high moral characters (History’s Heroes? n.d). These characteristics won him the hearts of many people. Therefore, both Socrates and Mandela lived a good life even though it was full of challenges.

Works cited

“Ethics.” Accessed on 21 March 2015 from <http://philosophy.lander.edu/ethics/socrates.html>
History’s Heroes? Nelson Mandela. Accessed on 21 March 2015 form <http://historysheroes.e2bn.org/yourheroes/view/10498>
Miller Rielle. Moral courage: Definition and Development. March 2005. Accessed from <http://ethics.org/files/u5/Moral_Courage_Definition_and_Development.pdf>