Courage According to Plato and Aristotle

Plato and Aristotle defined courage as something that has many layers. They explained how courage has less to do with being perceived as brave from the outside and more to do with what is happening inside a person when facing fearful circumstances. A courageous person still experiences doubt, fear, and impulse, but does not allow those emotions to control judgment or action. 

Plato links courage to the soul. He explains this concept in The Republic, his Socratic dialogue. He elucidates that the soul has two different parts: reason and spirit. Anger, pride, and ambition live in the spirited part. Without reason, this part can become reckless, because it reacts quickly and impulsively. Plato’s belief of courage states that reason must guide this spirited energy. That way, a person can stand by what they know is right instead of being pushed around by fear.

Aristotle presents courage in Nicomachean Ethics, a collection of lectures of his foundational work. He discusses how courage is a balance between the two extremes. Careless risk-taking or absence of fear does not equate to courage. He explains how a coward avoids dangers that must be faced, and a reckless person impulsive runs into danger without judgment. He believes that courageous people stand between both of these archetypes. They see fear, understand the gravity of the situation, and still ultimately decide to act with honor and purpose.

Plato and Aristotle both depict how courage is a trained strength. It is not a sudden wave of confidence or an inherent trait. Plato focuses on two qualities leading and working together, while Aristotle focuses on balance between two types of people. Together, their ideas illustrate how courage is something that can be practiced every day.