Análisis de tres modelos de comportamiento de excelencia humana en la historia: el modelo griego, el judeocristiano hasta su secularización y la mitología contemporánea de los EEUU, como guía para la construcción de un modelo de comportamiento de excelencia en México

Abstract

This essay addresses the way in which the figure and concept of a hero arose during the early Greek civilization, the relation of these hero figures with the need of early Greeks for human transcendent models, and the way in which those models prevailed throughout the ages. Greek heroes gave life a transcendent meaning in their arising culture. Through heroes inspiring behavior, Greeks came up with the conclusion that a meaningful life is accomplished when a man lives according with a set of values and develops certain virtues through habits. Life goes beyond satisfying basic needs which they share with any other animals, Greek Glory goes beyond life. Later on, Christians offered a model that fulfilled human transcendent needs, giving a new perspective for human kind: service, love and transcendence were now together. Early Christians followed Christ´s behaviour model, and became themselves inspiring models for others. Different western cultures have developed hero figures to inspire certain values and behaviors among their people. North American heroes have prevailed for decades as inspiring models for their citizens. What Hero figures has Mexico developed in order to inspire transcendent models among our people?

El presente trabajo aborda algunos modelos de trascendencia humana y los héroes que de ellos se derivan en la cultura occidental. El héroe es un concepto que se desarrolla básicamente para satisfacer la necesidad de trascendencia de la naturaleza humana. Los antiguos griegos, cristianos, ilustrados, modernos y actualmente los norteamericanos, construyeron un sinnúmero de figuras heroicas a partir de distintos modelos de trascendencia humana en cada época. A través de ellos, el hombre se aleja de sus instintos animales para encontrarse con la “inmortalidad”. Para lograr una sociedad valiosa, la conducta humana debe ser inspirada por modelos profundos y sumamente atractivos. Griegos, cristianos y norteamericanos siguieron magníficos modelos que los enaltecieron. Y en México ¿qué héroes tenemos?