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Full Idea
Panaetius recast the virtue of courage as 'greatmindedness' (Aristotle's paramount virtue), he demoted military valour and gave priority to courage displayed in civic life.
Gist of Idea
Panaetius identified courage with great-mindedness, preferring civic courage to military
Source
report of Panaetius (fragments/reports [c.145 BCE]) by Elizabeth Asmis - Panaetius
Book Ref
'Encyclopedia of Classical Philosophy', ed/tr. Zeyl,Donald J. [Fitzroy Dearborn 1997], p.362
A Reaction
I find this very appealing, as I am increasingly horrified by our denigration of the people who implement our democracy for us. We urgently need to get back to the Greek idea of civic virtue, and this idea of Panaetius should be widely promulgated.
| 6012 | We must choose in which of the virtues we wish to excel [Panaetius] |
| 6013 | Panaetius said we should live according to our natural starting-points [Panaetius, by Asmis] |
| 6014 | Panaetius identified courage with great-mindedness, preferring civic courage to military [Panaetius, by Asmis] |
| 5888 | Souls are born, since they are sensitive and inherited, so they must perish [Panaetius, by Cicero] |