Moral courage

Moral courage is the courage to take action for moral reasons despite the risk of adverse consequences.^[1]

Courage is required in order to take action when one has doubts or fears about the consequences. Moral courage therefore involves deliberation or careful thought. Reflex action or dogmatic fanaticism do not involve moral courage because such impulsive actions are not based upon moral reasoning.^[2]

Moral courage may also require physical courage when the consequences are punishment or other bodily peril.^[3]

Moral courage has been seen as the exemplary modernist form of courage.^[4]

^ Vesilind, P. Aarne (2006). "The Courage To Do The Right Thing". The right thing to do: an ethics guide for engineering students (2nd ed.). Woodsville, N.H.: Lakeshore Press. ISBN 9780965053969.
^ Walton, Douglas N. (1986). "Moral Deliberation and Conduct". Courage, a philosophical investigation. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520054431.
^ Putman, Daniel A. (2004). Psychological Courage. University Press of America. ISBN 9780761828204.
^ Shippey, T. A. (1992). The Road to Middle Earth. pp. 72–73.

[1] Vesilind, P. Aarne (2006). "The Courage To Do The Right Thing". The right thing to do: an ethics guide for engineering students (2nd ed.). Woodsville, N.H.: Lakeshore Press. ISBN 9780965053969.

[2] Walton, Douglas N. (1986). "Moral Deliberation and Conduct". Courage, a philosophical investigation. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520054431.

[3] Putman, Daniel A. (2004). Psychological Courage. University Press of America. ISBN 9780761828204.

[4] Shippey, T. A. (1992). The Road to Middle Earth. pp. 72–73.

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