Is courage determined by physical strength?

[Luckymoose]

No. To me, a simple act of a guy approaching a woman and not choking up is courage to me.

Confidence is not courage. Courage is a blind leap of faith kind of thing that allows the crazy people to be weeded out by nature while the smart mammals hide in their labs and in bunkers!

 

[Hygro]

No. To me, a simple act of a guy approaching a woman and not choking up is courage to me.

Confidence is the not choking up. Courage is doing it anyway knowing you will probably choke up.

 

[aelf]

OP definitely sounds like a budding psychoanalyst, judging from this and the last thread.

 

[Patroklos]

No. However, physical strength is certainly a boon to achieving whatever courageous goal you are striving for. So does intelligence, or any other attribute that can contribute.

I suppose it depends on what you are being courageous about.

 

[GoodGame]

Bravery does not mean "good at physical combat".

Courage and morale is often cited as key attributes of success in battle. Sure it doesn't mean that one has studied 1000 different ways to kill in combat and bend steel bars, but if superman is a coward in the face of lethal opposition, then he's not exactly good at physical combat either.

 

[MobBoss]

Kind of a blurry line, courage is just extreme self-confidence, usually combined wih moral righteousness. I agree though that approaching women isn't really courage as you're not doing it usually for some noble cause (unless you're approaching them to request funds for some noble charity).

I wouldnt call courage extreme self-confidence, but rather doing what was needed to be done regardless of ones feelings. In other words, you can be scared out of your skin, and yet show extreme courage in a situation by acting in spite of your fear.

 

[Verarde]

Definitely not.

Take Captain America, for example.

 

[skeptikalz!]

In the context of fighting another human being? Yeah, I believe physical strength of both individuals has a say to the level of courage. If you for some reason had to fight a 200+ pound bodybuilder, or his 140 pound slim friend, and you had a choice, I think naturally you'd choose the 140 pound individual because there is less fear of pain or loss. If you were testing your physical prowess, then you'd probably choose the bodybuilder, because you know he'll provide a better physical challenge. But I don't think your confidence in winning, and in turn your level of courage, would be higher fighting the 200+ guy, challenge or not.

 

[MobBoss]

Definitely not.

Take Captain America, for example.

Uhm. Captain America was really, really strong compared to your average person. But if your talking about Steve Rogers, I would agree with you.

 

[Verarde]

Uhm. Captain America was really, really strong compared to your average person. But if your talking about Steve Rogers, I would agree with you.

Right. Like in the recent movie, Rogers was really small, but really wanted to join the army. And look what happened because of his courage. He got his wish.

I think that courage does not directly relate to physical stature. It may have an effect, but not all the time.

 

[Flying Pig]

No, five chars, next!

 

[imperialman]

No. However, physical strength is certainly a boon to achieving whatever courageous goal you are striving for. So does intelligence, or any other attribute that can contribute.

As rare as this might be, I absolutely agree.

 

[Glassfan]

....doing what was needed to be done regardless of ones feelings. In other words, you can be scared out of your skin, and yet show extreme courage in a situation by acting in spite of your fear.

Amen brother. We're all afraid at times, and courage is overcoming natural fear and doing what's right.

There is such a thing as intestinal fortitude in the face of physical danger. Cops, Firemen and soldiers can reinforce their courage through training - but they have to be brave none the less.

In most civilian examples it's often a matter resisting peer presure to do what you know is right. If your friends are telling racist or sexist jokes, bashing gays, or slandering someone's good name - it's easy to go along or just be silent. It's courageous to demand they stop - or find new friends.

To directly address the OP, physical strength does help with physical bravery. After all, "exhaustion makes cowards of us all." But social courage requires a moral compass - and willpower.

 

[Narz]

I wouldnt call courage extreme self-confidence, but rather doing what was needed to be done regardless of ones feelings. In other words, you can be scared out of your skin, and yet show extreme courage in a situation by acting in spite of your fear.

Courage is doing what you feel is right so I wouldn't say it's done regardless of feelings. Regardless of fear maybe.