hamartia

hamartia – Aristotle’s word for the fatal flaw that leads to a hero’s downfall. See also 'hubris' – the excessive pride and ambition that usually leads to the downfall of a hero in classical tragedy. We are now witnessing a real-life tragedy: the rise of Donald J. Trump and fall of American democracy. As Colbert I. King wrote yesterday in this Washington Post article, my hope is that hamartia and hubris will lead to Trump's downfall before it's too late for America.