PHIL250 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Gentleness
5 Jan 2016
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Political courage: active condition by citizen concerned with honor and reputation; others are forced by rulers to avoid pain/punishment. Experienced in particular circumstances: professional soldiers run away when things go downhill whereas citizens keep fighting because they think retreat is shameful. Courageous due to passions: revenge brings pleasure, while anger is painful; spiritedness, emotional, jump into battle but retreat once they feel pain. Full of hope: they are confident because of past victories but once things turn, they run. Apparent courage due to ignorance: not knowing what action entails, but once they figure it out, they want out. People who are not courageous in the face of death pretend to know what death brings/involves. Courageous person can lose hope and confidence but despite being surrounded by fears, they continue to choose the beautiful deeds. Temperance: all extremes are also active states of character.
