Laches, a general in the Athenian army, saw Socrates fight bravely in the battle of Delium. When he and Nicias, another general, are asked to explain the idea of courage, they are at a loss, and words fail them.
How does courage differ from thoughtless and reckless audacity? Can a lion be said to be courageous? What about small children who have little idea of the dangers they face? Should we call people courageous who do not know whether their bravery will produce good or bad consequences? What kind of education and training promotes both courage and goodness in people, whether they are young or old?
Plato constantly presents courage as an essential quality for all who seek to live a good life, so what does it mean when even the bravest leaders of Athens cannot tell us what courage really is?
© Agora Publications
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Plato (circa 423–347 BC) was a philosopher in ancient Greece and the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Plato, together along with his teacher, Socrates, and his most famous student, Aristotle, laid the foundations of Western philosophy and science. He is widely considered the most pivotal figure in the development of philosophy, especially philosophy of the Western tradition.
Ray Childs is a successful audiobook narrator. He can be heard on such titles as Black like Me, The Vanderbilts, and Amos Fortune.