"Those who are ignorant also appear to be courageous, and are not far from those who are full of hope, but they are worse to the extent that they have nothing they consider worth facing, while others do. This is why the hopeful hold their ground for a certain time, but those who are decieved run away if they recognize that something is different, or suspect it." 1117a, 24-29
Aristotle beautifully articulates a common occurance among men in these few lines. While most can appear courageous, very few actually are when it comes down to it. There can be no such thing as courage in a man when he finds nothing "worth facing." Because it is only when a man is "facing" that courage is needed. There is no need for courage in a complacent, passionless life.
The fuel of courage is passion. In order to be courageous, there has to be some kind of emotion, rooted and worthy, that activates courage itself. Furthermore, courage is the result of something--it is not in place for the sake of itself. What are those things worthy to be faced with courage? And the test of courage is time. Time does not test courage so much as it sifts of cowardice.
Regardless, the courageous will be known in the end. I have found, like Aristotle, that those who are "decieved" only stick around for a short while. They usually flee before a situation presents itself that demands any sort of courage--they never let it get that far before running away.
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I just wrote a post about courage myself but didn't even consider the passion angle. I think you have made a good point by saying that courage is backed by passion and emotions. A person who appears courageous on the outside but is not fueled by some inner strength is not really courageous at all.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't really considered this angle either and you present a good point. The need for passion in a courageous life is almost greater than any other and seems to "fuel" it; lack of both hope and passion lessen the amount of courage one would be able to muster while "facing" something worthwhile. They seem to be the hinges on which courage stands. Without these things, as you have so rightly said, there is no need courage because then one lives the "complacent" life that has no need of courage.
ReplyDeleteI never really considered this either but I agree, this is a really great way of looking at things. Courage is something not everyone has but it is something we should all try and work towards on a daily basis.
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