Woe to a Nation That Does Not Have a Hero

Aug 23, 2026

The article analyzes Brecht’s “The Life of Galileo” (1938) as a framework for addressing two central 20th-century questions: whether human principles can be violated to advance science, and how truth can be told under an inhuman, dictatorial regime. It draws parallels to Iran’s Islamic governance, describing how intellectuals and athletes are tolerated only when useful, while religious authorities lose influence when society recognizes heroes. It highlights targeted repression during protests, including executions and arrests.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Galileo and the search for truth

The shadow of murder, torture, and intimidation on Iranian athletes and celebrities supporting the protesters

RESEARCH ARTICLE European Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences [www.ej-social.org](www.ej-social.org) Woe to a Nation That Does Not Have a Hero Samin Ustiashvili ABSTRACT Brecht wrote his famous play, "The Life of Galileo," in 1938. His apparent motivation in this work was the news of the splitting of the atom by German physicists, but in this piece, he wanted to answer two essential questions of the 20th century. Firstly, is it possible to violate all human principles for the advancement of science, and secondly, in a society where an inhuman government rules it, how can one tell the truth? The Islamic regime ruling Iranian society nowadays is in the same state of mind as Galileo's time, the 16 and 17th centuries. In dictatorial societies, intellectuals and athletes are praised as long as they can be helpful regarding material benefits. The religious clergy will lose power and their businesses if society has heroes. Therefore, during the recent protests and executions, athletes have been targeted. Actors and producers were arrested. This article seeks to answer the central question ofwhat is the responsibility of the intellectual class and the international community in the era of tyranny and an authoritarian regime. Keywords: Death Penalty, Galileo, Heroes, Human Rights, Iran, Justice, National Hero, Revolution. Published Online: March 27, 2023 ISSN: 2736-5522 DOI: 10.24018/ejsocial.2023.3.2.421 S. Ustiashvili * The International Black Sea University, Georgia (e-mail: [s.ustiashvili](s.ustiashvili@ gmail.com)[@](s.ustiashvili@ gmail.com)[ gmail.com](s.ustiashvili@ gmail.com)) *Corresponding Author I. INTRODUCTION Brecht's play content is as follows: Galileo, the great Italian physicist and the founder of the experimental method in the new sciences, decided to test Copernicus' hypothesis about the earth's rotation. Galileo discovered that the planet is not motionless and that the stars travel like ships. Galileo was in search of truth. He wanted to break down the large fence of old traditions and crude beliefs and discover the world's secret. At first, he recklessly unveiled his discovery and spoke fearlessly about the truth he had achieved, but the church, which adheres to ancient traditions, could not accept Galileo's claim. Therefore, they fought with him (Allan-Olney, 1870) . What could Galileo do in such a situation? Should he have stood up to the church, defended his hypothesis, or hidden the truth and survived death? Galileo lived in a society that, although constantly talked about "freedom of thought" and "freedom of research," basically believed that science should serve businesses. In other words, knowledge that does not benefit traders could not be accepted and used. In such a society, thinkers were praiseworthy as long as they could be helpful regarding material benefits. Galileo was thirsty for the truth, but to reach the truth, to discover the secrets ofthe world, one must have had freedom of research and freedom of speech. One must have had time and leisure. Galileo could do scientific research only when his material life was secured. Therefore, if he completed the telescope he had just built in the Netherlands and presented it to the Senate of the Republic as the result of his research, it was not to gain honor but for five hundred coins a month. Galileo did not think this honor was fleeting, nor was he afraid of future scandal. He disregarded moral traditions to have the opportunity to investigate and complete his research (Brodrick, 1965). Galileo had a wonderful personality. Although he spent all his time exploring the unknown lands of science, he was also surprisingly attached to carnal temptations and worldly pleasures. According to his belief, new knowledge needed new ethics and character. Galileo was a fun-loving creature who enjoyed good food, wine, and new ideas. He also said, "When I eat greasy and soft food, good thoughts come to me!" Galileo is a clear examp

FAQs

What two essential questions does the article connect to Brecht’s “The Life of Galileo”?

It focuses on whether all human principles can be violated for scientific advancement, and on how truth can be communicated in a society governed by tyranny and inhuman authority.

How does the article describe the situation of intellectuals and athletes under dictatorial rule?

Intellectuals and athletes are praised only when they can provide material benefits; otherwise, they become targets, especially when society has heroes and religious institutions lose power.

What repression measures related to Iranian athletes and celebrities are discussed?

The text describes killings, mass arrests, death sentences, executions, and specific reporting of athletes who were killed, imprisoned, and tortured, alongside broader pressure on supporters of protesters.

Aug 23, 2026

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