Individual honor, in my opinion, is the upholding of integrity and of respect for others, particularly when challenged. This challenge can take many forms, such as a debate, a competition, or an exam. It can be either an inner conflict or outer conflict, but it must require the participant(s) to overcome certain odds, and in overcoming these odds, to show a degree of moral principle. The manner in which we defeat the obstacles thrown across our path defines our character. It brings to the fore our best, and worst, qualities.

Public honor, then, is the response to a worthy call to arms and the willingness to look your enemy in the eye. Place this rule of thumb in the context of modern warfare. When there is a clear purpose and direct gain from engaging in combat, a country will, more often than not, support a declaration of war. With this support comes validation of the conflict, and consequent validation for the combatants. To pursue a victory to the satisfaction of the public, while adhering to ethical and moral standards, is what contributes to a soldier’s honor.

However, we are more likely to uphold a man who enters a war zone on foot, rather than a man who coordinates a drone attack from behind a desk, as an example of honor. This is due to exposure to risk. The first man must confront his enemies, and witness the pain he inflicts, firsthand. The second man is not privy to human suffering; he can choose to ignore the damage he does, choose not to carry that burden on his conscience. Without risk, he is unable to gain a deeper understanding of pain and, to some extent, lose his fear of death by looking it in the face. The first man willingly opens himself to the grief, regret, and pain on the battlefield; the second man remains detached, never challenged in his civilian comforts, despite the destruction he causes. Honor separates the former, who acknowledges his opponent on a human level and accepts his role in his opponent’s downfall, from the latter.

Moreover, our concept of honor has remained relatively similar to that of the ancient Mediterranean world. This is why works like “The Iliad” still appeal to modern readers, and why we are still moved by stories like the Battle of Thermopylae. The ideals of valor and bravery in combat are universal, but it is the theme of honor – something hard to define, but simple to distinguish – that draws us to the characters of Hector and Ajax, Leonidas and Aristodemus.