Courage
cour-age pronunciation: [kur-ij]
noun
The courageous man is one who acts to fulfill a noble end in the face of a truly fearful danger, yet moderates his fear to the danger of the situation. (Aristotle, Nicomacheon Ethics, Book III)
Core Components of a Courageous Act:
• Good moral intentions of agent – intended consequences
• Dangerous circumstances
• Personal risk and “safety” – if failure
• Altruistic and meritorious intent
• Beyond “call of duty”
• Done voluntarily - Neither obligatory nor forbidden
• Omission of act is not “wrong” or deserving of sanctions
--Jaworski & Peter
The courageous person is the one who has learnt not to let fear paralyze him, not to get panic-stricken, not to lose his head because of fear, but to act coolly when facing danger, in short: he has learnt not to let fear obscure his judgment as to what is the right course of action for him. (Wright, 1963, p. 148)
