Fragmented testament: letters written by World War II resisters before their execution.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Ethics
• Moral Philosophy

Background:

• Psychoanalysis, particularly Freud's natural science approach, often overlooks moral greatness.
• Henri Baruk proposed a model integrating normative and empirical views using the Hebrew concept of 'tsedek' (altruism and justice).
• Baruk suggested individuals with 'tsedek' possess a developed sense of Self and Other.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define moral greatness as a combination of high moral consciousness and courage.
• To examine character qualities of World War II resisters as indicators of moral greatness.
• To explore the role of altruism as a marker for moral greatness.

Main Methods:

• Review of over 200 letters from World War II resisters written before execution.
• Analysis of interpersonal qualities, expressions of concern, reassurance, and gratitude in the letters.
• Comparison of observed qualities with Baruk's model of 'tsedek' and the proposed definition of moral greatness.

Main Results:

• Resisters exhibited a strong sense of Self and Other, balancing duty and affective impulse.
• Letters revealed altruistic qualities, including concern for others' suffering and efforts to provide comfort.
• Altruism was evident across a spectrum of resistance activities, even those not initially classified as altruistic.

Conclusions:

• Moral greatness can be characterized by high moral consciousness, courage, and a strong sense of Self and Other.
• Altruism, as demonstrated in the resisters' letters, serves as a significant marker for moral greatness.
• Baruk's model provides a framework for understanding the empirical and normative aspects of moral greatness.