Contemporary Interpretation of Courage - Term Paper Example

Courage Task Courage Introduction People in the present society realize that they need to display courage to protect themselves from numerous instances. However, their view of courage results in several instances of immorality in their lives. This paper highlights Aristotle’s views on how courage is a virtue according to “Nicomachean Ethics”. In addition, the paper compares Aristotle’s analysis with the contemporary interpretation of courage by diverse individuals. Moreover, the paper includes a personal interpretation of the view of Aristotle on the matter of courage. Finally, answers to whether there is a similarity between the views of Aristotle and the modern view are evident in the paper. Explain his account in your own words I believe Aristotle states that it is important for people to display courageous traits. However, these courageous traits must not inhibit a person’s general morality. For example, one may choose to balance his/her feelings of confidence and those of fear. He/she chooses whether to be afraid of diverse things in their lives. Therefore, a courageous individual is one who chooses to fear such things as beauty, which cannot compromise morality. In addition, courage enables individuals to avoid evil since it informs their abilities to make right decisions (Aristotle & Ross, 2009). Aristotle suggests that bravery involves an individual’s actions to fear evil for a good cause. For instance, a person may display resistance to the act of theft because it is immoral to steal. However, this resistance to steal will only qualify to be courageous depending on the reason for refusal. If the individual refuses to steal because he/she is afraid of the extreme punitive measures, then that is not courage. This is because the individual fears for wrong reasons, which are immoral in themselves according to Aristotle. However, if the individual fears the evil of stealing then he is courageous because he fears a significant thing (Aristotle & Ross, 2009). In addition, Aristotle account on fear suggests that courage is not influential because individuals with courage do not need further encouragement. Instead, these courageous persons display their fears of various graceful things on their own. Moreover, courage is evident when people display it in circumstances, which others have failed. In particular, it is indeed courageous for individuals to display their respective fears because they want to achieve a beautiful thing or a certain good for humanity. Finally, Aristotle suggests that courageous individuals do not fear such things as death because they understand that it is a mandatory process for everyone (Aristotle & Ross, 2009). Analyze his account in comparison to what we today think about courage The contemporary view on courage is different from Aristotle probably because we live in a corrupt society. For example, today, we describe courage to be fearlessness in numerous aspects. In particular, people who suggest that they are afraid of death cannot be courageous in the contemporary world. Society views them to be the worst of cowards. There is no similarity in our view and Aristotle in the matter of death. In addition, today we believe that courage must not bear anything good. This is since we compromise most aspects of morality and do not ridicule immorality (Aristotle & Ross, 2009). Further, Aristotle introduces five exemptions to the display of the desired courage. He gives such examples as soldiers in war fronts who sometimes display the real courage. Today, no one imagines that any soldier is not courageous as Aristotle does. We view all soldiers as courageous because of the fearless they have. It is not important to us that their display of courage could be because of another form of fear. For example, it is true that soldiers face the extreme challenges because they fear the respective punishments they can face when they fail (Aristotle & Ross, 2009). Consequently, Aristotle’s account offers that courage should not create arrogance in individuals. However, that is not practical in the contemporary society because most courageous people are arrogant. For example, Aristotle advices that when individuals display confidence from her past conquests then they fail. This is because courageous individuals learn to live past their conquests and strive to fight other possible evils in their lives. There are few similarities in this specific account because people in the modern world do not encourage others to show fixative characteristics. For example, people in the contemporary world would not encourage their friends to boast about their achievements. This is what Aristotle seems to ridicule hence the similarity (Aristotle & Ross, 2009). Is Aristotle talking about the same thing as we do when we talk about courage? Why or why not? Aristotle is not talking about the same thing as persons do when talking about courage. This is because there is a significance difference in his worldview and ours. For example, Plato mentions that courage must have relation with beautiful things in an individual’s life. His definition of beauty differs with ours in the sense that Aristotle values morality more than we do (Aristotle & Ross, 2009). Consequently, there is great appreciation for individuals who display their courageous actions in the current world. However, this was not the case during Aristotle’s era because, during that time, courageous individuals were few. In addition, courage involved intense levels of sacrifice among the respective individuals, which is not the case in the contemporary world. Individuals do to have to show that they are selfless in their courageous actions. They are courageous regardless of their actions or the respective consequence of the same (Aristotle & Ross, 2009). However, there are few similarities between our view on courage and Aristotle. Therefore, persons could be talking about the same thing on the courage issue. For instance, persons view on courage involves fear of certain things in our lives. Consequently, Aristotle confirms that courage is the fear of evil in its entirety. In addition, we believe that courage is indeed a virtue, which is the same view as Aristotle. Persons may have a difference in understanding of virtue but still agree that with Plato that courage positively influences lives (Aristotle & Ross, 2009). Conclusion In conclusion, both modern and past philosophers agree that indeed courage is a virtue because of the numerous positive activities it enables people to undertake. In addition, there should be some sort of education for the people in the contemporary world. Such education forums will enable them to realize the significance of fearing the right thing. There should be also rewarding of various individuals who display the courage. In addition, Plato’s views on courage are important because they facilitate an individual’s display of moral behavior. Finally, modern philosophers need to help people change their current view on what courage should entail. References Aristotle & Ross, W. (2009). Nicomachean ethics. Lexington, KY: World Library Classics. Read More