Comment on Why Support the Underdog?

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:50:41 GMT

"By supporting a cause that is probably going to win anyway, we gain little. But by supporting an unlikely cause such as Leonidas at Thermopylae, there is an increased possibility that if we succeed our accomplishments will live on past us, because it is so incredible."

There are a couple problems with this. First, we might join Leonidas on those grounds but why would we root for him on those grounds? We're not going to be remembered that way. Second, if one wants to be remembered one is probably best off just being on the side of the winners. Winners write history. Finally, this could explain the motivation of the underdog but I don't think it explains the way we seem to be wired to root for the underdog (either biologically or culturally).

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