What is the most fundamental difference between a hero and a coward?

Question

The best philosophic answer would earn 10 points.

Answer 1

A hero will die for you, a coward will let you.

Answer 2

Tricky question.

A Hero can be noted for there heroic deeds, and a Coward can be noted for there cowardly deeds. They both can be the same depends on the task at hand or situation.

Example:

1. A Hero goes into a burning house and saves 5 out of 10 people. A coward runs out of a burning house carrying a baby, then panic and runs back into the house as the hero watches. The coward die in the burning house as he goes back in. Who is the hero, who is the coward. Did the roles change during there actions.

2. There's a bank robbery. The coward runs out of the bank and calls the police. The hero stays in the bank and decides to try and take the gun from the robber, and get shot.

I do not believe that there's a certain type of person, that makes a Hero or a Coward.

I believe that all of us can fit in either category depending on the situation.

Just like whats the difference between smart and dumb.

Answer 3

Positive courage.

I think that a coward could be a hero with positive courage. Being a coward does not mean you do not know right from wrong. It means you are not willing, for one reason or another, cannot do what is right. It must be positive courage because without being positive, the person has the potently to have negative courage, they would then be a villain.

Answer 4

I think that depends on your definition of "hero". 'Heroic' acts do not necessarily envolve courage. If I, say, rescue someone or something from the ledge of a 20 story building you might call me a bit of a hero. But I might not be afraid of hights. I might make a hobby of hangin out on 20 story building ledges because I enjoy the breeze up there. It may not have taken any courage, selflessness or conviction for me to it. *lol* Very stupid example, sorry. Point being, your questions would be more to the point if you wanted to explore the difference between a 'brave' person and a 'cowardly' person. There is fear in both of them. The brave person overcomes their fear in order to achieve a goal, while the cowardly person gives in to their fear and relinquishes their goal.

Answer 5

Don't the words tell you something?
A coward has no backbone to stand up for himself among other things.
A hero does some miraculous deed that shows he is trust worthy and dependable.

Answer 6

Perspective.

A man may be hailed as a hero because he killed his enemy.

Another man may be seen as a coward because he is a pacifist and refuses to fight. In some peoples eyes, this man may be seen as the hero.

Perspective is EVERYTHING.

Answer 7

no difference, sometimes hero showed cowardness.

Answer 8

Empathy.

Answer 9

the coward succombs to fear, the hero transcends it.

Answer 10

A medal??