|
Objection 1: It seems that fearlessness is not opposed to
fortitude. For we judge of habits by their acts. Now no act of
fortitude is hindered by a man being fearless: since if fear be
removed, one is both brave to endure, and daring to attack.
Therefore fearlessness is not opposed to fortitude.
Objection 2: Further, fearlessness is a vice, either through lack
of due love, or on account of pride, or by reason of folly. Now lack
of due love is opposed to charity, pride is contrary to humility, and
folly to prudence or wisdom. Therefore the vice of fearlessness is not
opposed to fortitude.
Objection 3: Further, vices are opposed to virtue and extremes to
the mean. But one mean has only one extreme on the one side. Since
then fortitude has fear opposed to it on the one side and daring on the
other, it seems that fearlessness is not opposed thereto.
On the contrary, The Philosopher (Ethic. iii) reckons
fearlessness to be opposed to fortitude.
I answer that, As stated above (Question 123, Article 3),
fortitude is concerned about fear and daring. Now every moral virtue
observes the rational mean in the matter about which it is concerned.
Hence it belongs to fortitude that man should moderate his fear
according to reason, namely that he should fear what he ought, and
when he ought, and so forth. Now this mode of reason may be corrupted
either by excess or by deficiency. Wherefore just as timidity is
opposed to fortitude by excess of fear, in so far as a man fears what
he ought not, and as he ought not, so too fearlessness is opposed
thereto by deficiency of fear, in so far as a man fears not what he
ought to fear.
Reply to Objection 1: The act of fortitude is to endure death
without fear, and to be aggressive, not anyhow, but according to
reason: this the fearless man does not do.
Reply to Objection 2: Fearlessness by its specific nature corrupts
the mean of fortitude, wherefore it is opposed to fortitude directly.
But in respect of its causes nothing hinders it from being opposed to
other virtues.
Reply to Objection 3: The vice of daring is opposed to fortitude by
excess of daring, and fearlessness by deficiency of fear. Fortitude
imposes the mean on each passion. Hence there is nothing unreasonable
in its having different extremes in different respects.
|
|