Plato and the Virtue of Courage

Contents

Acknowledgments ix Introduction: The Problem of Courage 1 The Return of Courage 1 A Modern Approach to Courage 8 The Feminist Critique of Courage 10 Courage and Liberalism 17 Approaching Plato 22 1 Courage and the Education in Virtue 26 Two Notions of Courage 26 A Paternal Perspective on Education 29 The Benefits of Spear-Fighting 34 Socrates’ Rhetorical Strategy 40 2 Noble Courage: Socrates and Laches 47 Laches 47 Standing One’s Ground 48 Steadfastness of Soul 54 The Goodness of Courage 64 3 Courage and Wisdom: Socrates and Nicias 68 Nicias’ Socratism 68 Courage as Knowledge 70 Natural Strength and Prudent Forethought 77 The Terrible and Emboldening Things 80 Courageous Knowledge 90 4 The Nature of Spiritedness 95 The Role of Spiritedness in the Republic 95 Spiritedness, Anger, and Justice 98 Noble Spiritedness 109 Contents 5 The Guardians’ Education in Courage 112 Spiritedness and the Problem of the Guardians 112 Anger’s Weakness 115 Magnificence 123 The Limitations of Political Courage 129 6 Courage and Philosophy 135 An Education for Courage 135 Courage and the Problem of the Good 137 Courage in the Cave 147 Courage and the Path to Philosophy 153 Conclusion: The Promise of Courage 161 Notes 171 Bibliography 199 Index 207 viii CONTENTS ...