the meaning of an honorable death

I think the concept of an honorable death depends on two things: do you believe in honor at all and what regard to you hold death. If you don

 

The only way to honorably die is to honorably live.

There is no honor in death. It's ugly and horrendous.

 

Taking a bullet for someone else whom it was intended could be viewed as an honorable death.

Swimming into a raging cold river back and forth to save drowning children and dying yourself could be viewed as an honorable death.

I think it possible to die an honorable death when others are placed in higher regard than self.

 

A bit off topic, but does honor exist outside the context of others? As in, can honor exist independently of a social context?

Can you die honorably if there is no one there to see and no one else involved?

 

Honor is doing the right thing when there would be no chance of you being caught doing the wrong thing.

 

I heard many years ago it is the things we do when nobody else is present to watch that tells us most about ourselves. Is this the context?

Agree with the above....

 

Dieing without any regrets.

(Without regrets about the sum total of your life and about the way you are dieing).
(Without regret does not mean without repentance - for the religious ones).

 

^ well said

 

I've never met those creatures - honor and disgrace - neither dead, nor alive.

 

Everyone has a different opinion so every or no death at all could be considered honorable!