Courage: Physical or Moral?

The level of development of both Moral Courage and Physical Courage is an important part of what makes someone a Human Resource versus a Resourceful Human. In the modern context, we can be forgiven for sometimes getting confused as to the difference between the two.
In a media-saturated context, acts of physical courage are many. Protestors facing up to authority, normal human beings doing extraordinary things, extreme athletes doing the seemingly impossible, we are surrounded by examples of ‘physical courage’. However in the midst of a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world we can if we are watching for it, see examples of moral courage in broad daylight. Unlike physical courage, moral courage is often hidden and not celebrated as much. It only makes the headlines when there is an epic struggle is taking place and people are paying attention between issues of justice and injustice, right and wrong etc. This also explains why we are often confused about the importance of moral courage and why it is not discussed much in our school systems.

We marvel at the feats of physical courage from extreme athletes, heroes who rescue others, and acts of valor very quickly. As human beings, we are quick to recognize those acts. But Moral Courage is less recognized. It is the choice by an individual to operate on principle when things get difficult. There may be real harm facing the person, however, the danger is often not apparent to others. The choices are made quietly and can occur when someone speaks truth to power. When someone makes a decision on principal when they could have caved.

The following story by Anne Applebaum published in The Atlantic, Titled: History Will Judge the Complicit seems ideal to explore in the Resourceful Human Blog. The story of two Senators; Lindsey Graham and Mitt Romney is particularly fascinating and has relevance to this exploration of Moral Courage. Both Men are active players in the current societal context. Their actions are instructive to understand the moral courage more deeply. In terms of physical courage plenty of examples exist. Resourceful Humans develop both Moral and Physical Courage.