I feel the exact same way, Steve. Even when I learnt about helping behaviour in Psychology at school, I always knew that it couldnt be boiled down to just one cause. There is such thing as selflessness, or true altruism.

Even though they dont even exist yet, I know my kids will mean more than anything to me and I'd do anything to protect them. I bet you every parent here would feel the same way (I'm just unique :p)

Its the same with Hannah, the angel in my sig and my guardian on the high seas. I can take abuse to myself really easily. I've had to put up with it for years (try being as tall as me in school). But lord help you if you even consider doing that to my girl.

[/sop]

Don't think of yourself as short, think vertically challenged. :up:

I'm the polar opposite of short, my friend. 6' 7" at 18 ;)

One also has to consider the type of risk. Low risk of death (everyone does that all the time, if you count traffic accidents), significant risk (some people will do it for entertainment), and very likely or guaranteed death.

Assuming you are in a situation where you have time to think about it, I'd say no to the last category, but it depends...
Would you remain perfectly safe if you do not act, or is there going to be a serious problem anyway? In the latter case, there's less reason to avoid the risk.

Also, having some probability of survival (even if very small) is different from certain death (crashing a jet at high speed into a target), and could affect the decision. The difference between things worth dying for, and things worth risking your life for.

For me, the only things in the category "worth dying for" would be those where the consequences of not acting would be so severe that you literally couldn't live with them.

My compliments, that is a very good definition that respects the subjective differences between individuals.

I found no translation for this poem, sorry:

I think there's a wide category of things I would fight for or risk my life for, but 'dying for' is taking it a little too far I think. Let's be a little pragmatic at least; it indeed HAS to be 'something you couldn't live with otherwise' to really take it that far.

Otherwise, whether I like the thought or not, I can't think of any situation where I wouldn't keep a measure of self-preservation in mind. Nor can I picture a situation so bright and clear where I would be convinced that 'the ultimate sacrifice' is worth it.

Keep in mind, of course, my personal philosophical stance (and a belief in the finality of death), the fact that I'm young, single and childless, and my severe lack of faith in any kind of nationalism/patriotism.

At the same time, don't get me wrong. The reason military history is my biggest hobby is striving to understand the mindset of fighting men and how they went about it. I really do have an appreciation for it, just that I can't share it in the place, time and mindset I'm in.