Courage And Courage: The Definitions Of Courage

Improved Essays
The first thing usually thought of when one thinks of courage is the act of being brave in life-threatening situations. But after studying the virtue and learning more about being virtuous, I have found that it is the virtue of deciding between the two vices of cowardice and recklessness. Courage is more than simply deciding to act carelessly, it is the ability to respond to fear. It means being able to do what is right and virtuous, even if it is difficult to do. Courage can be present in many different forms. Some examples of courage in everyday life include the courage to always do what is right, courage to accept that some decisions may lead to unpopularity, the courage to make self-improvements, even if they require physical or mental …show more content…
Aristotle viewed moral virtues as a state of excellence in a human soul that leads one to good actions and fulfillment of their human life. Aristotle believed that being virtuous leads to happiness, and the desire to improve the quality of life by following moral rules and creating good habits. Aristotle viewed courage as one of the four main virtues, with the other virtues branching off of these virtues. Courage is being able to keep one’s convictions regardless of consequences, making it easier to see keep one’s other virtues. In existentialism, courage is connected to the idea of authenticity. This is where one takes responsibility for the direction of an individual’s life and the meaning of it. One courageously accepts the fears and existential anxiety from choices and …show more content…
Letting people get to know you is a frightening thing. I usually prefer to keep things private, and it takes me a long time to open up to people, but I chose to be courageous in this part of my life. By being more open with people, I had more meaningful conversations, learned so much more about friends that I thought I knew, and even learned more about myself. It taught me more about vulnerability and trust. I learned more about what it means to have someone know your fears and not use them against you. I believe that it is an act of courage to put that kind of trust into another person. College is a constant battle of choosing to be courageous in getting to know people. Being surrounded by only strangers, and letting them get to know us and our souls is an act of bravery every

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