Courage Nicomachean Ethics

hektor, trojan hero. aristotle questions courage.



the courage of citizen soldiers. aristotle says largely result of penalties cowardice , honors bravery, closest type of seeming courage real courage, important making army fight if brave, different true courage because not based on voluntary actions aimed @ being beautiful in own right. aristotle perhaps surprisingly notes homeric heroes such hector had type of courage.
people experienced in particular danger seem courageous. might seen amongst professional soldiers, not panic @ false alarms. in perhaps surprising remark aristotle notes such men might better in war courageous people. however, notes when odds change such soldiers run.
spirit or anger (thumos) looks courage. such people can blind dangers run though, meaning animals can brave in way, , unlike courageous people not aiming @ beautiful acts. type of bravery same of mule risking punishment keep grazing, or adulterer taking risks. aristotle notes type of spirit shows affinity true courage , combined deliberate choice , purpose seems true courage.
the boldness of feels confident based on many past victories not true courage. person overconfident when drunk, apparent courage based on lack of fear, , disappear if circumstances change. courageous person not of victory , endure fear.
similarly, there people overconfident due ignorance. overconfident person might stand while when things not turn out expected, person confident out of ignorance run @ first signs of such things.

chapter 9. discussed in book ii already, courage might described achieving mean in confidence , fear, must remember these means not in middle between 2 extremes. avoiding fear more important in aiming @ courage avoiding overconfidence. in examples above, overconfident people called courageous, or considered close courageous. aristotle said in book ii that—with moral virtues such courage—the extreme 1 s normal desires tend away important aim towards.

when comes courage, heads people towards pain in circumstances, , therefore away otherwise desire. men called courageous enduring pain. there can pleasant end of courageous actions obscured circumstances. death is, definition, possibility—so 1 example of virtue not bring pleasant result.

aristotle s treatment of subject compared plato s. courage dealt plato in socratic dialogue named laches.