How global rise of hero worship is undermining critical thought

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*

Ordinary individuals often transcend their limitations to make extraordinary contributions to families, communities, and societies. Their achievements inspire admiration, sometimes reverence, and often lead to hero worship. While celebrating human accomplishment is natural, elevating individuals to near-mythical status creates a culture that distorts democratic values and undermines critical thought.

History is filled with figures whose contributions shaped science, philosophy, politics, literature, and art. From Albert Einstein to Alexandra Kollontai, Rousseau to Marx, Gandhi to Mandela, Ambedkar to Nehru, Castro to Che Guevara—many are remembered as heroes for their transformative roles. Yet, history also records fascists, racists, and authoritarian leaders who cultivated devoted followings, demonstrating that hero worship is not inherently progressive. It can just as easily empower destructive ideologies.

Capitalism has intensified this phenomenon. Political leaders, corporate executives, cultural icons, and religious figures increasingly manufacture celebrity through propaganda and spectacle. Social media influencers, driven by algorithms of “like, share, and subscribe,” monetize attention and entrench a culture of superficial hero worship. Within the logic of digital capitalism, fame itself becomes the measure of worth, eroding democratic, secular, and scientific traditions.

The allure of hero worship—shifting from inspiration to obsession—has always carried dangers. It erodes critical inquiry, concentrates power, and fosters authoritarianism. Blind loyalty replaces accountability, enabling abuses of power and weakening democratic institutions. The costs, both visible and hidden, are borne by societies that sacrifice reason and creativity for devotion.

Hero worship degrades individuals and communities alike. It produces compliant minds and domesticated thoughts, serving the interests of the powerful rather than fostering innovation or dissent. In contrast, science thrives on questioning, debate, and fallibility. Its ethos generates new knowledge, encourages creativity, and sustains democratic dialogue. Unlike hero worship, science does not demand obedience—it demands inquiry.

To build egalitarian and progressive societies, we must question all forms of power—whether embodied in individuals, cultures, or institutions. Critical engagement strengthens knowledge systems and deepens democratic praxis. Hero worship, a relic of medieval thought, has no place in modern society. What we need instead is a culture of accountability, inquiry, and collective progress.

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*Academic based in UK

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