8 •Courage

In 380 BC,Platowroteadialogue,theLaches,inwhich

Socrates and two Athenian generals seek to answer a
seemingly simple question: What is courage? The
generals, Laches and Nicias, had gone to Socrates to
resolve a dispute between them over whether boys
undergoingmilitarytrainingshouldbetaughttofightin
armor. Nicias thinks they should. Laches thinks they
shouldn’t.

Well, what’s the ultimate purpose of the training?
Socrates asks.

To instill courage, they decide.

So then, “What is courage?”

Courage,Lachesresponds,“isacertainenduranceofthe
soul.”

Socratesisskeptical.Hepointsoutthattherearetimes
whenthecourageousthingtodoisnottoperseverebutto
retreat or even flee. Can there not be foolish endurance?

Lachesagreesbuttriesagain.Perhapscourageis“wise
endurance.”

This definitionseems moreapt.But Socratesquestions
whether courage is necessarily so tightly joined to
wisdom.Don’tweadmire courageinthepursuit ofan
unwise cause, he asks?

Well, yes, Laches admits.