The Stuff of Heroes? Ordinary People

Dear Chris,

Finally a real feud, and it's over love!

You wrote that, “We are all more virtuous in our minds than we are in our hearts.” I don’t agree. I think our virtue is from a deeper place. Our minds tell us to be cautious and weigh the risks. Our minds wonder at what we would do when faced danger. But our hearts call on us to act—regardless of risk.

My argument is that this is not simply training or self-selection but instinct and character. How many times we see news stories of people throwing themselves into the sea to rescue children? What doubt do you really have that you would instantly put yourself between a mad dog, a runaway car or a machete wielding monster and your own precious children? I will wager that you have no real doubt.

It is this instinct deep in the hardwiring of human decency that makes courage the default action and cowardice the exception. Hamlet said that, “the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought.” Our minds may make us hesitate to act bravely and generously, but our instincts, or if you will “our better angels,” move us to generosity of spirit and flesh.

With every confidence in your good character,
Jonathan