Courage is Knowing What Not to Fear – were the words of Plato, an ancient philosopher who lived in Athens during the 5th century BCE. The phrase comes from one of his written dialogues called Laches – a book that focuses on the definition of courage.
Who Was Plato?
Plato was born in Athens between 427 – 428 BCE into a rich and aristocratic family. This allowed him to study under distinguished and renowned teachers during his early life. As a young man, Plato was a student of Socrates, the famous Greek philosopher believed to be one of the founders of modern Western Philosophy. With his influential family background, Plato originally wanted to get involved in politics. However, when his teacher Socrates was trialed and executed in 399 BCE – an act many believed to be unjustified, Plato took a different path and left Athens to visit many places around the Mediterranean for 12 years. During this time, he has studied under several teachers who may have given him the inspiration to start writing.
Who Was Plato`s Most Notable Influence?
The influence of Socrates in Plato’s famous writings was significant. His many exemplary works are even referred to as ‘Socratic’ due to their stark reflection of his mentor’s beliefs and methodologies. Upon returning to Athens after more than a decade, he began establishing the first organized school in Western civilization, one that will eventually become popular and produce many brilliant minds, the most famous of whom was Aristotle.
What does the quote Courage is not the absence of fear mean
The quote “Courage is knowing what not to fear,” which comes from a passage in his famous dialogue Laches has inspired many individuals seeking to overcome their fears and find their courage. The dialogue from which the famous phrase was extracted, emphasizes what it means to truly be courageous. While there might be a variety of interpretations on the quote, the most widely accepted would be that courage, as Plato views it, is a virtue that requires an understanding of one’s own worries and fears. It requires acting in the right manner with the right motivations despite being aware of the presence of fear. To grasp its deeper meaning, one must understand what courage means on a fundamental level.
Meaning of courage according to ancient Greeks
The ancient Greeks perceive courage as one of the human qualities deemed to be morally good. It sits alongside perseverance, discipline, prudence, and the other qualities that are believed to promote not only high moral standards but also individual greatness. Even Christianity views courage as one of the four classic cardinal virtues. Many would agree that the modern definition of what it means to be courageous is “the capacity to control oneself despite the presence of fear in dangerous or difficult situations.”
Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving 4 years from 1861 to his assassination in 1865. During his presidency, he has led a divided US through the bloodiest Civil War in the nation’s history – a war that represents the greatest moral and political turmoil the country has ever witnessed. Despite half of the nation’s opposition and threats for his life, his resolve and courage to destroy slavery have triumphed. One might perceive that Lincoln was a man who knows little fear in his life, but it is in fact the opposite. Lincoln has suffered lifelong melancholia, also known today as clinical depression. Lincoln has experienced constant anxiety and sorrow that may debilitate other men and stop them from pursuing worthwhile goals.
At the age of 22, he was “friendless, uneducated, and penniless” when he set out to Illinois on his own. The fact that this disadvantaged individual has managed to rise above his setbacks despite dealing with debilitating anxiety and depression is a feat that many find astonishing. During his presidency, the self-taught lawyer showed brilliance in military strategy and exceptional leadership, despite mental illness taking its toll. Lincoln’s life is a remarkable story of courage and perseverance. If one examines how he had navigated a life full of internal turmoil and fear but triumphed despite it all, one will understand what it means to truly be courageous.
Plato’s Views on Courage and the Lessons He Learned
In Plato’s dialogue Laches, we have two opposing views that were brought to Socrate’s attention. On one side of the argument, Laches asserts that courage is an intrinsic value and must come naturally. Contrary to that, Nicias states that it has to be learned. Socrates himself, one of the characters in the dialogue, expresses that courage is of no value when it comes naturally without the presence of a fearful emotion. This raises an important question: what if one has to fight or act alongside fear to develop courage? During the conversation between the two characters with opposing views, Socrates also suggested that fear could also be a useful tool for success, as it allows one to avoid circumstances that can threaten one’s life.
All throughout Plato’s life, he has contemplated what having courage actually means. This dialogue expresses philosophical lessons that he has learned about virtue. Much like our understanding of courage in the modern world, his view on this quality is that it is something that simply cannot exist without the presence of fear.
How Can You Apply This Lesson for Yourself?
Courage is often discussed in the context of another virtue, perseverance. One’s courage is often tested in the face of adversity. Just like President Lincoln, everyone faces challenges in life in one form or another. While not everyone might be gifted with natural fearlessness or a sound mind, each person has the ability to make decisions to persevere in the face of fear in order to overcome it. In Laches, it is observed that Plato believes that courage is less valuable without the presence of fear. Today, courage is seen as a necessity to overcome our fears and break through our limiting beliefs. It is a tool that allows us to live the life that we truly want.