Grok says: According to Ernest Becker, a “hero system” is essentially a cultural or societal framework that provides individuals with opportunities to achieve a sense of heroism, which is crucial for managing the fear of mortality and the human need for meaning and self-esteem. Becker describes society itself as a “symbolic action system, a structure of statuses and roles, customs and rules for behavior, designed to serve as a vehicle for earthly heroism.” Each culture has its own unique hero system, characterized by different roles and standards of heroism, from high-profile figures like Churchill or Buddha to everyday heroism like that of a coal miner or a simple priest.
These hero systems are not just about physical bravery but encompass any endeavor that gives individuals a sense of cosmic significance or lasting value beyond their mortal existence. Whether a system is magical, religious, primitive, secular, scientific, or civilized, it serves the same purpose: to allow individuals to earn feelings of “primary value, of cosmic specialness, of ultimate usefulness to creation, of unshakable meaning” by contributing something of perceived lasting worth to society. This could be through tangible creations like buildings or through intangible contributions like raising a family over generations.
Becker argues that these hero systems are fundamentally about denying death; they help individuals to feel they have transcended the mere biological reality of life and death by achieving something that outlives or outshines their own decay. In essence, every society functions as a “religion” in this context, providing myths and roles for people to fulfill their need for heroism, which Becker sees as a central problem of human life, deeply rooted in our nature and the need for self-esteem.
