Plato and the Virtue of Courage

Acknowledgments ix Introduction: The Problem of Courage 1(25) The Return of Courage 1(7) A Modern Approach to Courage 8(2) The Feminist Critique of Courage 10(7) Courage and Liberalism 17(5) Approaching Plato 22(4) 1 Courage and the Education in Virtue 26(21) Two Notions of Courage 26(3) A Paternal Perspective on Education 29(5) The Benefits of Spear-Fighting 34(6) Socrates' Rhetorical Strategy 40(7) 2 Noble Courage: Socrates and Laches 47(21) Laches 47(1) Standing One's Ground 48(6) Steadfastness of Soul 54(10) The Goodness of Courage 64(4) 3 Courage and Wisdom: Socrates and Nicias 68(27) Nicias' Socratism 68(2) Courage as Knowledge 70(7) Natural Strength and Prudent Forethought 77(3) The Terrible and Emboldening Things 80(10) Courageous Knowledge 90(5) 4 The Nature of Spiritedness 95(17) The Role of Spiritedness in the Republic 95(3) Spiritedness, Anger, and Justice 98(11) Noble Spiritedness 109(3) 5 The Guardians' Education in Courage 112(23) Spiritedness and the Problem of the Guardians 112(3) Anger's Weakness 115(8) Magnificence 123(6) The Limitations of Political Courage 129(6) 6 Courage and Philosophy 135(26) An Education for Courage 135(2) Courage and the Problem of the Good 137(10) Courage in the Cave 147(6) Courage and the Path to Philosophy 153(8) Conclusion: The Promise of Courage 161(10) Notes 171(28) Bibliography 199(8) Index 207