Courage

by Tawna Fifer, May 2015

300 words

1 page

essay

In his article What Is Courage?: Existential Lessons From the Cowardly Lion, Stephen A. Diamond analyses the issue of courage and focuses his attention on a few aspects of this notion. In the very beginning, the author states that also “life requires courage”, people, nevertheless, many people do not understand the real meaning and importance of courage. Diamond is focused on the courage that is needed in our daily life; he states that though we often do not take into consideration the courage that is necessary to live on our dangerous planet.

The author assumes that in most cases it is possible to master the courage by way of denying potentially dangerous circumstances: if one is unaware or unconscious of the danger, he/she needs no courage to cope with it at all. On the other hand, by this self-deception, we often “sacrifice our vitality, self-awareness, sensitivity and capacity to fully experience our environment in all its volatile terror, beauty and wonder” (Diamond, 2011). Fear is a constructive feeling, it forces people to act if they have a purpose in life. However, courage is not just a lack of fear, but the ability to act, despite the fact of being afraid. Courageous people are definitely afraid, but they do not allow fear to paralyze them; they accept and cope with their fears, even if they are terrorizing. It helps them to get more and more daring and courageous. The spiritual courage is another aspect of courage Diamond mentions in the article. I cannot but agree with the author’s assumption that it requires a great courage to confess our fears and vulnerability. This is why courage is more than the ability to “withstand danger, fear, or difficulty” (merriam-webster.com). The notion of courage itself involves many definitions and aspects, which contribute to the understanding why courage is essential in our lives.

References

Courage. Definition. Retrieved from

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courage

Diamond, S. A. (2011). What Is Courage? : Existential Lessons From the Cowardly Lion. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-deeds/201104/what-is-courage-ex …

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