The Cowardice of My Convictions

Questioning Anti-Human Values

Authors

  • Joseph J. Locascio Harvard Medical School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/eph.v20i2.115

Keywords:

humanism, metaphysics, ontology, morality

Abstract

This essay makes the argument that contrary to long-standing, unquestioned, popular belief, human courage is not a virtue – not if courage is defined broadly as risking one’s personal well-being for a higher goal and virtue is defined as a quality conducive to the long-term betterment of oneself and/or humankind. I contend that courage in general is best viewed as a morally neutral, innate or learned, behavior or attitude which can be used for great evil, i.e., unnecessary harm, as well as for good. In the latter case, I would use the qualified expression “moral courage.” Continuing to indiscriminantly promulgate within human culture, the belief that courage is an aspirant virtue is I believe a mistake humankind can no longer afford to make with the advent of technological weaponry that threatens its survival.

Author Biography

  • Joseph J. Locascio, Harvard Medical School

    Dr. Locascio works in the Neurology Department at Massachusetts General Hospital, and he also teaches at Harvard Medical School.

References

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Downloads

Published

2013-11-06

Issue

Section

Humanist Reflections

How to Cite

Locascio, J. (2013). The Cowardice of My Convictions: Questioning Anti-Human Values. Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism, 20(2), 115-127. https://doi.org/10.1558/eph.v20i2.115

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