ah see the beauty of martyrdom is that it is only considered thus when done in public to some extent. it's not so much about the dying in itself but the build up to the dying or apparent dying. human nature makes people want to be noticed for the things they do or don't do. it may be more noble to die in silence but in some ways it is in opposition of the human need for immortality, in whatever way it is desired. all selflessness is brought about through a selfish thought or act. even if it's something as simple as satisfaction, nothing is done without gain of some sort.
Hmm I think the word martyr comes from the greek word meaning witness, which could be understood to mean that a martyr is someone who dies or suffers in such a way as to bear witness to their faith or cause or such like. So rather then the circumstances of their death being important, it is people's reaction to their death or suffering that is important to the furthering of their cause, ie. in strengthening the faith or belief of others in said cause etc.
I suppose though that you are probably using the word martyr to mean "a good person who spends their life toiling ceaselessly and selflessly in the pursuit of some noble cause to make the world a better place", in which case I would agree with you that their accomplishments still exist whether or not anyone ever hears about it.
However I do think that perception plays a very important part in shaping reality. But that's going off on a tangent :)
Martyrs are exemplary of selflessness, but the very term itself implies that they're a martyr to something, and that something is usually what they're opposed to, and in becoming a martyr it's their ultimate sacrifice to achieve their goal - bringing that something down. And if there were no one there to witness it, what would they be a martyr to? It's the tree in the forest conundrum...
I think the purpose of such self-sacrifice is to bring to others’ awareness the value of a cause because people do not appreciate something until it has been given a value, and despite what we do with it, often a human life is deemed to be of sufficient value in the first world
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you're right. and i think that we will find that those who have been made saints and such for their sacrifices did not ask for it - it was us who made them famous for their acts after the fact. i don't think there is anything wrong with that either - we are just celebrating what they achieved, and perhaps showing others not to be afraid of altruism...that everyone can make a difference.
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Their accomplishments still exist, whether or not you or I hear about them.
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I suppose though that you are probably using the word martyr to mean "a good person who spends their life toiling ceaselessly and selflessly in the pursuit of some noble cause to make the world a better place", in which case I would agree with you that their accomplishments still exist whether or not anyone ever hears about it.
However I do think that perception plays a very important part in shaping reality. But that's going off on a tangent :)
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And if there were no one there to witness it, what would they be a martyr to? It's the tree in the forest conundrum...
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i don't think there is anything wrong with that either - we are just celebrating what they achieved, and perhaps showing others not to be afraid of altruism...that everyone can make a difference.
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