Courage

This timely book brings together ten scholars in the varied fields of philosophy, theology, history, anthropology, and literature to reflect on the theme of courage. Contributors to this volume agree that courage is not just for the few or the dramatically heroic. While some of the authors do invoke awe-inspiring instances of death-defying courage, all recognize that courage is required of every one of us. The first section of Courage, entitled Courage in Philosophy and Literature, begins with William Desmonds exploration of the transcendent dimension of courage, which comes to us not from within ourselves but from beyond ourselves. Leroy Rouners essay utilizes Paul Tillichs interpretation of faith as courage in The Courage to Be and then goes on to suggest that original sin be understood in todays terms as ontological loneliness. Remi Brague, following Nietzsche, finds that the virtue called for in modern times is intellectual honestythe courage to face the truth. Geoffrey Hills essay looks at depictions of courage in the writings of Shakespeare and his immediate predecessors. Philip Ivanhoe suggests that Aristotles understanding of courage can be deepened by the writings of the Confucian thinker Mengzi (Mencius), who insisted that great couragecourage directed toward morally praiseworthy endsis the result of a continuing process of self-cultivation. The second section, Courage in War, Peace, and Nation Building, includes John Taylors study of courage in wartime, which focuses particularly on Robert E. Lee and his courage. Daniel Berrigans piece, on the other hand, finds in the famous Isaiah text And they will hammer their swords into plowshares a summons to peace making. Lucius Outlaw calls for courage from each of us in constructing a multiracial, multiethnic democracy with justice for all. Courage Every Day is the theme of the final section. Robert Neville illuminates the many varieties of courage called for each day of our lives, including the courage to dare, the courage of self-identity, the courage to love, and the courage to be alone. Katherine Platt concludes these explorations of courage with the hope-inspiring suggestion that courage is a habit we can practice.