Knowledge of what is, and is not, worthy of caution or aversion.
For the Stoics, courage in the face of risk is not something you can brute force through strength of will.
It comes from understanding that things external to you cannot harm you, because our happiness depends on virtue alone.
Courage also means understanding that some things external to us are worthy of caution, even if they do not deserve our passionate fear.
We should, for example, be cautious of illness or unnecessary injury, but not fear it in a way that damages our ability to live well.
Greek: Andreia
ἀνδρεία.
Book: Essential Stoic Concepts
Subtitle: A Stoic glossary
Author: Stoa
Chapter: Courage
Location: Chapter 4, Section 2
Content:
Knowledge of what is, and is not, worthy of caution or aversion.
For the Stoics, courage in the face of risk is not something you can brute force through strength of will.
It comes from understanding that things external to you cannot harm you, because our happiness depends on virtue alone.
Courage also means understanding that some things external to us are worthy of caution, even if they do not deserve our passionate fear.
We should, for example, be cautious of illness or unnecessary injury, but not fear it in a way that damages our ability to live well.
Greek: Andreia
ἀνδρεία.