more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 20257

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / d. Courage ]

Full Idea

Courage as cold bravery and imperturbability, and courage as feverish, half-blind bravura - one calls both of these things by the same name! How different are the cold virtues from the warm ones!

Gist of Idea

Cool courage and feverish bravery have one name, but are two very different virtues

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Dawn (Daybreak) [1881], 277)

Book Ref

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Dawn (Daybreak) (v 5)', ed/tr. Smith, Brittain [Stanford 2011], p.182


A Reaction

How few philosophers are capable of making a subtle but accurate observation like this! How many other virtues should be subdivided?


The 15 ideas with the same theme [virtuous resistance to fear and danger]:

Courage is scientific knowledge [Socrates, by Aristotle]
Being unafraid (perhaps through ignorance) and being brave are two different things [Plato]
Strictly speaking, a courageous person is one who does not fear an honourable death [Aristotle]
True courage is an appropriate response to a dangerous situation [Aristotle]
Courage follows reason, which tells us to choose what is noble [Aristotle]
Great courage is not violent [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
Panaetius identified courage with great-mindedness, preferring civic courage to military [Panaetius, by Asmis]
In a free man, choosing flight can show as much strength of mind as fighting [Spinoza]
Contempt of danger is just madness if it is not in some worthy cause [Hutcheson]
Cool courage and feverish bravery have one name, but are two very different virtues [Nietzsche]
Military idea: what does not kill me makes me stronger [Nietzsche]
Cowards are responsible for their cowardice [Sartre]
Courage is not a virtue, but the form of every virtue at its testing point [Lewis,CS]
Courage overcomes the fears which should be overcome, and doesn't overvalue personal safety [Foot]
The courage of an evil person is still a quality worth having [Zagzebski]