Is My Hero Academia Society Ethically Good?
Written by Johan Kim
My Hero Academia has captivated audiences worldwide with its action-packed plot and thought-provoking exploration of heroism, power, and justice. In a world where 80% of the population possesses superpowers, known as Quirks, society has adapted by building a complex hero-based structure. Heroes are celebrated, licensed, and ranked, while those who misuse or resent their powers are labeled as villains, causing us to question the ethics and values underlying this society.
The central question is whether the structure of My Hero Academia’s Hero Society is ethically sound or if its foundation has cracks that could potentially lead to its downfall. By exploring this question, we can examine real-world parallels, from the ethics of power distribution to societal expectations, in a way that resonates deeply with fans.
PART 1: The Structure of Hero Society
In My Hero Academia, the world operates around a hero-based system, governed by a Hero Commission that assigns licenses, rankings, and missions. This structure was designed to protect citizens from villains and keep order within society. Licensed Pro Heroes are revered figures who, by virtue of their status, are expected to defend the public, often at great personal cost. With heroes ranked and celebrated much like celebrities, this system operates with a seemingly solid structure – heroes protect the public, and the public provides them with fame, admiration, and sometimes fortune.
Yet, a closer examination reveals both advantages and significant ethical issues.
Pros of Hero Society: This structured hero-centric society does have its benefits. Citizens generally feel safe knowing that Pro Heroes like All Might, Endeavor, and Eraser Head are dedicated to protecting them. The Hero Commission’s centralized control and ranking system help maintain order, distributing heroes based on skill, Quirk strength, and experience.
Additionally, the presence of a structured system allows Pro Heroes to act in organized, cooperative ways. Teams can be dispatched to handle large-scale threats, and young heroes are trained from an early age at institutions like U.A. High School, preparing them for the challenging road ahead.
Cons of Hero Society: However, while this structure may create order, it raises questions about fairness and equity. For one, the ranking system establishes a hierarchy, essentially assigning worthiness based on power, skill, and public approval. Those who rank higher, such as All Might, receive more opportunities, fame, and resources, while heroes further down the list are left to fend for themselves in lesser-known cities or dangerous neighborhoods with fewer rewards.
Moreover, the celebrity aspect of heroism places intense public scrutiny on these heroes, elevating them to almost mythical status but also limiting their ability to act freely. Public expectations can lead to heroes acting out of a desire for fame rather than genuine service. As we see with characters like Endeavor, who is highly ranked but ethically questionable in his actions toward his family, the hero system rewards skill and power without necessarily accounting for moral character.
The hierarchical structure of Hero Society, then, offers a mixture of benefits and challenges, creating an environment where heroes are pressured to perform at all costs. These dynamics highlight the ethical complexities of a system built on power, fame, and high-stakes expectations, making us question: Is this structure sustainable, or does it contribute to ethical erosion among heroes?
PART 2: The Ethics of Quirks and Power Distribution
The concept of Quirks in My Hero Academia brings a layer of complexity to Hero Society. Quirks are unique abilities inherited at birth, and they vary greatly in power and usefulness. This random distribution of superpowers creates a society where, by default, some individuals are born with advantages over others. In a world where a powerful Quirk can pave the way to fame and success, while a less practical Quirk can limit one’s opportunities, ethical questions naturally arise.
Quirk Inequality: Quirk distribution is inherently unequal. Some Quirks, like All Might’s One for All, are incredibly powerful, capable of shaping someone into a near-mythical hero. Others, like those possessed by civilians or students with “weak” Quirks, don’t offer the same prospects. This leads to an ethical dilemma: is it fair for society to place individuals with certain Quirks on a pedestal while disregarding others?
This inequality brings up parallels to real-world issues, such as socio-economic disparity or privilege by birth. Just as wealth, social status, and natural talent can determine an individual’s opportunities and social standing, Quirks determine an individual’s potential for becoming a Pro Hero. And while society in My Hero Academia generally views Quirks as a natural part of life, it still favors individuals with more “useful” or “heroic” abilities, inherently leading to bias and favoritism.
Social Bias and Discrimination: Discrimination against individuals with “undesirable” or “dangerous” Quirks is also a significant issue. Certain characters, like Shinsou, who possesses a mind-control Quirk, face bias and mistrust because of their abilities. His Quirk, while useful, is deemed problematic or “villainous” in nature, leading others to stereotype him and doubt his hero potential. This judgment calls into question the ethics of a society that categorizes people based on inherent traits rather than their intentions or actions.
We also see that those with villainous or dark-seeming Quirks are often pushed to the margins, viewed as potential threats or outcasts. This bias fosters alienation and resentment, sometimes turning people toward villainy as a means of rebellion or survival. For example, characters like Twice and Spinner end up embracing the villain identity partly due to a lack of acceptance and support within mainstream society.
Ultimately, the ethical concern here is whether Hero Society’s emphasis on certain Quirks over others leads to harmful social stratification. Instead of fostering equality, this bias-driven society may inadvertently promote division, breeding resentment among those who feel excluded.
Hero Society’s bias towards powerful or “worthy” Quirks reveals an ethical flaw in its design. By assigning value to individuals based on their abilities, society not only creates an atmosphere of discrimination but also hinders the possibility of true equality. This systemic bias prompts us to question: can a society that values certain individuals over others ever be considered ethically sound?
PART 3: Hero Society's Response to Villainy
In My Hero Academia, the hero-centric society has a clear stance on villainy: it is something to be combated and eradicated, often without consideration for the underlying causes. While this approach may create a sense of safety and order, it also raises ethical questions about society’s responsibility in creating, and potentially rehabilitating, villains.
The Villain Creation Cycle: One of the series’ more compelling themes is that many villains weren’t born inherently “evil.” Instead, they were shaped by their circumstances and society’s failures. Take, for example, Shigaraki, one of the series' main antagonists. He was abandoned and traumatized as a child, pushed to the edges of society with no support or intervention, despite possessing a highly destructive Quirk. Instead of offering help, society turned a blind eye, leaving him vulnerable to manipulation by All for One, a villain who took advantage of Shigaraki's vulnerability.
Another example is Twice, a character who faces an existential crisis as a result of his Quirk’s side effects, leading to severe psychological issues. Society’s rejection and lack of support for people like Twice demonstrate a troubling reality: by ignoring the needs of those on the margins, Hero Society inadvertently pushes them toward villainy. This cycle raises ethical questions about responsibility, as it suggests that some “villains” are simply the products of a society that failed to care for them when they needed help.
Ethical Concerns in Treatment of Villains: Instead of addressing these root causes, Hero Society typically meets villainy with force. Pro Heroes are trained to neutralize threats, which often means physically overpowering and imprisoning villains without exploring ways to rehabilitate them. This reactive approach to villainy has some ethical implications. Should a society that contributed to the creation of villains not take some responsibility for their rehabilitation?
Characters like Tomura Shigaraki and Dabi represent more than just opposition; they are embodiments of the failures within Hero Society’s rigid structure. The lack of a system that acknowledges and addresses these failures suggests that Hero Society may be more focused on maintaining its image and status quo than on promoting genuine justice and compassion. The League of Villains, in many ways, serves as a tragic reminder of how a society that refuses to accommodate “outsiders” ends up facing the consequences of its neglect.
Hero Society’s approach to villainy raises the ethical issue of responsibility. If society chooses to treat villains as irredeemable threats rather than addressing the factors that contribute to their behavior, can it be considered morally sound? In overlooking these root issues, Hero Society reveals a systemic flaw, one that implies a preference for punishment over understanding, safety over justice.
PART 4: The Pressure of Heroism on Individuals
In My Hero Academia, heroes are not only revered but expected to embody ideals of courage, selflessness, and strength at all times. While this societal expectation can inspire and uplift, it also places immense pressure on individuals, sometimes leading to personal and moral crises. This raises the question: Is it ethically right to demand such high personal sacrifices from heroes for the sake of society?
Public Expectation and Mental Strain: Pro Heroes face constant public scrutiny. Society holds them to almost superhuman standards, expecting unwavering resilience and moral integrity, regardless of personal cost. This relentless pressure can take a toll on their mental health and well-being. We see this in characters like Endeavor, who becomes obsessed with surpassing All Might and achieving the status of “Number One Hero.” His single-minded pursuit of excellence leads him to neglect his family, causing significant harm to his children, especially his son, Shoto.
This expectation for heroes to be paragons of virtue often leads to situations where they feel compelled to prioritize their public image over their personal lives. Characters like All Might carry the weight of these expectations heavily, pushing themselves to the limits of their endurance to maintain society’s perception of them. The societal pressure on heroes to embody perfection can result in burnout, ethical compromises, and even isolation, as heroes struggle to balance their personal lives with their professional responsibilities.
Personal Sacrifice vs. Societal Good: Heroism in My Hero Academia frequently requires personal sacrifice, with heroes often risking their lives to protect others. But this raises an ethical dilemma: should heroes be expected to make extreme personal sacrifices solely for the public’s safety and admiration? In other words, does society have a right to demand that heroes give up their private lives, mental well-being, and even their physical health to meet these expectations?
Characters like Hawks demonstrate the complex relationship between personal sacrifice and societal demands. Hawks, who started training as a hero from an extremely young age, had little choice in the matter. His life was essentially shaped and dictated by society’s need for a hero, leaving him with limited personal agency. This leads us to question the ethics of a system that not only glorifies sacrifice but, in some cases, imposes it on individuals without their full consent. Should society, in its quest for safety, be allowed to dictate the lives of its heroes?
These pressures also lead to ethical compromises. For example, heroes may feel forced to act in ways that protect their reputation over addressing real issues, leading to instances of pride, corruption, or emotional withdrawal. This suggests that the high expectations placed on heroes may ultimately lead to a society where appearances are valued over substance, and personal well-being is sacrificed for the sake of public image.
The ethical issue here is whether Hero Society’s demands on its heroes are fair or if they risk creating an environment where heroes are seen as tools rather than individuals. By valuing the public image of heroism over the personal needs of those tasked with protecting society, Hero Society may be creating more harm than good in the lives of its champions.
Conclusion
My Hero Academia presents a captivating yet complex portrait of heroism, power, and societal values. On the surface, Hero Society appears to be ethically sound, with an organized system that prioritizes public safety and rewards those who protect others. However, a deeper look reveals significant ethical issues within this structure. From Quirk-based biases and societal neglect leading to the creation of villains, to the extreme expectations placed on heroes, My Hero Academia’s world raises important questions about the morality of a society that prizes power, status, and image over compassion and equality.
Ultimately, we’re left to wonder: Can a society so focused on idealized heroes, while ignoring the flaws in its system, truly be sustainable or morally just? Perhaps My Hero Academia offers a cautionary tale about the dangers of hero-worship and the importance of treating all individuals—heroes, civilians, and even villains—as people deserving of empathy and understanding. In the end, Hero Society’s ethical shortcomings remind us of the need for a balance between justice and compassion, power and responsibility, and society’s expectations and individual well-being.
While Hero Society might achieve a semblance of order, its inherent flaws raise a challenging question: Should any society place such an intense focus on heroism if it means sacrificing the humanity of its people? As fans, we’re encouraged to consider these issues and reflect on what makes a society truly good—and if My Hero Academia’s world might, in fact, be a hero in need of saving.