Consider such a well-known concept as “courage”. This is an image that arose at the dawn of time. It developed, filling with ever new faces. There were thinkers who tried to “overthrow” him and discredit him. Only none of this came out. Let's get it right.
The meaning of the word "courage"
It is clear that we are now investing in this concept the meaning that we inherited. Ethical standards are not created independently, they are inscribed in any culture as its main indicators. The lexical meaning of the word “courage” is extremely clear. This ability to counter threats that affect the foundations of life, including death. Only this whole definition does not convey the full depth of this concept. To understand, let's look at the “historical path” of the word “courage”. This will allow a deeper understanding of what was originally invested in it, what is now understood.
How Antique Philosophers Defined “Courage”
Most often, ethical standards are filled with meanings accepted in the society in which they operate. In the ancient world, it was believed that courage is the heroism shown in battle. Even simpler is the ability to not be afraid of death, which may result from a fight. It turns out that only representatives of the stronger sex, with those holding weapons, could possess courage. Is it not very different from what we are thinking right now? Complemented the concept of Thomas Aquinas. He believed that this is a fortitude that contributes to the struggle for good. He recognized courage as a virtue, although wisdom in his system took precedence over him.
Middle Ages
In knightly times it was claimed that courage is a virtue of the military. Only an armed man could manifest it, since he had to overcome himself by engaging in a battle with the enemy. At the same time, ordinary people who daily overcome hunger, bad weather and other dangers were denied courage. He was attributed only to the rich and “noble”, which from our point of view is very strange.
Bourgeois philosophy
It is clear that this concept was filled with heroic meaning. Philosophers tried to discredit him, who claimed that courage is a kind of secondary virtue. They tried to convince people that the fear of death is a productive force that leads to the establishment of peace. I. Kant interpreted courage as the ability to do what should. At the same time, the concept itself expanded. It was recognized that courage is often needed in everyday life to overcome psychological barriers and deal with adverse circumstances. For example, it must be manifested by a person who is bullied or mocked. Nietzsche tried to return the original meaning to the concept, but his attempts were unsuccessful.
Modern look
Having rethought and transformed various interpretations, society now agrees that courage is a strength of mind shown by a person of any class or gender in overcoming various kinds of dangers. It is equally important both in battle or confrontation, and in everyday life.
A person who is afraid of public speaking, shows the highest courage, going to the podium. The one who makes decisions is no less strong in spirit when he has to admit his own mistakes. A woman, afraid of childbirth, courageously seeks to continue the birth. Etc. A lot of examples of the manifestation of ethical standards in life can be given. To recognize that courage is the quality of every person, and not a specific “caste”, was made by communist philosophy. It was postulated that ethical standards apply equally to the whole of society, without regard to classes or other types of population groups. Thus, courage is a quality that allows you to maintain balance, courage and wisdom under any circumstances, to make and execute a balanced and thoughtful decision, regardless of the risks.