真の「勇気」とは何か : 品性・品格教育についての講演の記録

Courage is a cardinal virtue, one on which other virtues hinge. Through the teachings of Aristotle, we learn why courage looks different in each individual and is situation dependent. Courage is needed when one feels fear. It is normal to feel fear when confronted by dangerous, difficult, or painful situations. If an individual is overcome by fear, he/she is a coward. And if someone acts as if he/she has no fear he/she is rash. Extreme reactions (i.e., the excessive display of fear or the opposite-being a "pretender" to courage) are indicative of vice. To act courageously (i.e., to fear the right things, at the right time, and in the right way) is to display virtue. How is the virtue of courage acquired? Through practice. One becomes brave by doing brave acts. Reading about or observing exemplars (in real life or in film) can deepen our understanding of the potential within each of us to display moral courage.