(August 5, 2015 at 11:18 am)abaris Wrote:(August 5, 2015 at 11:00 am)Parkers Tan Wrote: Well, the heroic acts on the battlefield are often self-sacrificial. I'd think they would qualify as statements in the moment, in a manner of speaking: mute testimony to their love for their brothers, even into death.
There's no doubt that it plays a role. The ancient Greeks went the whole mile by forming units of lovers, who, going by ancient legends, were the bravest, since they were fighting to keep each other alive.
But going by my grandfathers diary from WWI and accounts from German veterans of WWII, staying alive was always the primary impulse. I'm sure there are many tales of soldiers saving their comrades. But I'm also sure there's a lot of giving the experience at least some meaning by telling you did it for your buddies. Sounds better than just following the natural instinct of survival. But there's also another aspect to these stories. Survival is easier when you're facing a dangerous situation as part of a group you can trust.
Yeah, no doubt in a situation as chaotic as combat, the motivations are many and inextricably intertwined, and no doubt survival is a biggie.
