The Unyielding Demand: The Necessity of Courage in War

By Benjamin Richmond

In the grim calculus of human conflict, where chaos reigns and the very fabric of existence seems threatened, one virtue stands paramount, an indispensable pillar without which all other efforts crumble: courage. This article explores the profound necessity of courage in war, not merely as a commendable trait, but as an essential condition for survival, duty, and the preservation of any semblance of order amidst the maelstrom. Drawing upon the profound insights of the Great Books of the Western World, we shall see that courage is not a mere contingency of individual temperament, but an unyielding demand imposed by the stark realities of armed conflict.

The Inescapable Demand: A Summary

War, by its very nature, pushes humanity to its extremes, confronting individuals with fear, loss, and the ever-present specter of death. In this crucible, courage emerges as a fundamental necessity. It is the virtue that enables soldiers to face the unknown, leaders to make agonizing decisions, and societies to endure the immense pressures of conflict. Far from being a simple absence of fear, philosophical tradition reveals courage as a deliberate act of will, informed by reason and driven by duty, serving as the linchpin between the horrors of war and the aspiration for peace. Without it, discipline dissolves, morale shatters, and the very possibility of collective action for a greater good vanishes.

Courage: More Than Just Bravery

To speak of courage in war is not merely to laud reckless abandon or a lack of fear. Indeed, as Aristotle meticulously outlines in the Nicomachean Ethics, true courage (andreia) is a mean between the extremes of cowardice and rashness. It is not the foolhardy charge into certain death without purpose, nor is it the paralysis of fear that prevents action. Instead, courage is the reasoned steadfastness in the face of noble danger, undertaken for a worthy cause.

  • Facing Fear, Not Lacking It: The courageous individual feels fear—the natural human response to mortal peril—but chooses to act despite it. This act of overcoming internal apprehension is what elevates courage above mere instinct.
  • Informed by Reason: Plato, in dialogues like the Laches, grapples with the definition of courage, suggesting it involves a form of wisdom—knowing what is truly to be feared and what is not. This rational component distinguishes true courage from animalistic ferocity.
  • Directed Towards a Noble End: The soldier's courage is often not for personal glory, but for comrades, for the protection of their homeland, or for a principle deemed greater than individual life. This connection to a higher purpose—a sense of duty—is critical.

The Crucible of Conflict: Necessity and Contingency

While the outbreak of war itself can often be seen as a contingency—a failure of diplomacy, a choice made by leaders, or an unforeseen confluence of events—the requirement for courage once conflict commences is absolute.

Aspect of War Impact Without Courage Role of Courage
Facing the Enemy Retreat, rout, surrender Stand firm, engage, defend
Enduring Hardship Desertion, despair, collapse Perseverance, resilience, maintaining morale
Following Orders Disobedience, insubordination Adherence to command, maintaining discipline
Protecting Comrades Self-preservation above all Sacrifice, mutual defense, esprit de corps
Leadership Decisions Indecision, panic, poor judgment Resolve, strategic thinking under pressure

Without courage, an army devolves into a panicked mob. The intricate strategies of generals become meaningless if soldiers lack the fortitude to execute them. As Thucydides vividly illustrates in The History of the Peloponnesian War, the psychological resilience and steadfastness of citizens and soldiers alike are as crucial as their military might. Courage, therefore, is not merely a desirable trait; it is a necessity for the very function and survival of any fighting force, and by extension, the society it defends.

Duty, Honor, and the Common Good

The connection between courage and duty is profound, particularly in the context of war. Soldiers are bound by an oath, a commitment to protect their nation and fellow citizens. This sense of duty often compels individuals to act courageously, to overcome their natural fears for a cause greater than themselves.

  • Duty to Comrades: The bond forged in shared peril creates a powerful impetus for courage, as individuals fight not only for themselves but for the lives of those beside them.
  • Duty to Nation: The defense of one's homeland, its values, and its people is a primary motivator for courageous action, a profound expression of civic virtue.
  • Duty to Ideals: For many, courage in war is an act of defending fundamental principles of justice, freedom, or honor, even when faced with overwhelming odds.

This intersection highlights how courage, though manifested in the brutality of war, ultimately serves the aspiration for peace. The courage to fight, to endure, and to potentially sacrifice is often undertaken with the hope of securing a lasting peace, a stable future where such extreme demands are no longer made. Machiavelli, though pragmatic, understood the necessity of a prince and his soldiers possessing virtù—a blend of skill, strength, and courage—to protect the state and ensure its longevity, thereby creating the conditions for its people to live in peace.

(Image: A classical Greek sculpture depicting a warrior, perhaps Achilles or Leonidas, standing resolute with a shield and spear, gazing forward with an expression of determined resolve, embodying the philosophical ideal of courage tempered by wisdom rather than mere aggression.)

An Enduring Virtue

The necessity of courage in war is a timeless truth, echoed through the annals of history and the philosophical traditions of the Western world. From the Homeric heroes to the Roman legions, from the medieval knights to the modern soldier, the demand for resolute action in the face of fear remains constant. It is the virtue that allows humanity to confront its darkest moments with dignity, to uphold its duties, and to strive towards the eventual return of peace. While we pray for a world where war becomes a distant memory, the philosophical understanding of courage as an indispensable necessity in conflict remains a vital lesson, reminding us of the profound demands placed upon the human spirit when pushed to its ultimate limits.

Video by: The School of Life

💡 Want different videos? Search YouTube for: ""Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics Courage Explained""

Video by: The School of Life

💡 Want different videos? Search YouTube for: ""Plato Laches Courage Philosophy""

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