On Heroes and Average Moral Human Beings

After discussing various approaches about heroic behaviour in the literature, we first give a definition and classification of moral behaviour, in distinction to intrinsically motivated and ‘prudent' behaviour. Then, we present some arguments on the function of moral behaviour according to ‘minimal' standards of the average individual in a modern democratic society, before we turn to heroic behaviour. We conclude with some remarks on methodological as well as social problems which arise or may arise if behaviour can not be influenced by extrinsic incentives.