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Full Idea
The fears that count against a man's courage are those that we think he should overcome, and among them, in a special class, those that reflect the fact that he values his safety too much.
Gist of Idea
Courage overcomes the fears which should be overcome, and doesn't overvalue personal safety
Source
Philippa Foot (Virtues and Vices [1978], II)
Book Ref
Foot,Philippa: 'Virtues and Vices' [Blackwell 1981], p.12
A Reaction
I think that sentence tells us more accurately what courage is than anything in Aristotle's discussion. Ask yourself which of your fears really ought to be overcome, and particularly beware of over-valuing your own safety. But stay safe if you can!
| 23145 | Virtues are intended to correct design flaws in human beings [Foot, by Driver] |
| 22400 | Courage overcomes the fears which should be overcome, and doesn't overvalue personal safety [Foot] |
| 22398 | Virtues are corrective, to resist temptation or strengthen motivation [Foot] |
| 22402 | Most people think virtues can be displayed in bad actions [Foot] |
| 22403 | Temperance is not a virtue if it results from timidity or excessive puritanism [Foot] |
| 22401 | Actions can be in accordance with virtue, but without actually being virtuous [Foot] |
| 22396 | We take courage, temperance, wisdom and justice as moral, but Aristotle takes wisdom as intellectual [Foot] |
| 22397 | Wisdom is open to all, and not just to the clever or well trained [Foot] |