MORAL COURAGE

We have learned that in morality, over-reliance on feelings, to

say the least, is disadvantageous. In resolving moral dilemmas,
we are thus advised to guide our emotions with reason, if not to
totally suppress them. But reason, for many ethicists, is also not
enough in carrying out moral decisions. Moral courage is also
important.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WILL AND MORAL COURAGE
• A good rational moral decision is not always executed. It is one
thing to know a good moral act, and it is another to actually
execute it. Oftentimes, what is lacking is the moral courage,
which necessarily involves the concept of will. In morality
therefore, will is essential just as reason is significant.
• Moral courage means “doing the right thing even at the risk of
inconvenience, ridicule, punishment, loss of job or security or
social status, etc. Moral courage requires that we rise above
the apathy, complacency, hatred, cynicism, and fear mongering
in our political systems, socioeconomic divisions, and cultural,
religious differences.
• One sense of the concept ‘will’ refers to that faculty of the
mind which chooses, at the moment of making decision, the
strongest desire from among the various desires present. “Will
does not refer to any particular desire, but rather to the
capacity to act decisively on one’s desires. Within philosophy
the will is important as one of the distinct parts of the mind,
along with reason and understanding. It is considered
important in ethics because of its central role in enabling a
person to act deliberately. Commonly, we think of will in the
active sense, of self control, or working toward and attaining
goals.
• The German Philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer explained that
when we become conscious of ourselves we recognize that our
essential qualities are endless urging, craving, striving,
wanting, and desiring. He said that these are features of that
which we call our will. According to Schopenhauer, will “is the
innermost essence, the kernel, or every particular thing and
also of the whole. It appears in every blindly acting force of
nature, and also in the deliberate conduct of man.” He
believed that the will is primary and uses knowledge in order
to find and object that will satisfy its craving.
• A pertinent concept is that of will power. It refers to the “inner
strength to make a decision, take action, and handle and
execute any aim or task until it is accomplished, regardless of
inner and outer resistance, discomfort or difficulties. It
bestows that ability to overcome laziness, temptations and
negative habits, and to carry out actions, even if they require
efforts, are unpleasant and tedious or are contrary to one’s
habits.”
• Having moral courage and will means doing the right thing,
which may include listening to our conscience, that quiet voice
within. Disregarding that voice may lead to feelings of
inadequacy, guilt and diminished personal integrity. For
parents, using will power usually demands putting aside
compelling but momentary pleasures or comforts in order to
set a good example for their children and be the good parents
they wish to be.
• Moral courage demand us to make judgements about what
behaviors or acts are supportive of our ethical ideologies or
highest ideals, and which ones are destructive. Moral courage
and will require us to recognize our responsibilities and be
accountable to the consequences of our own actions.
 I believe strongly in ___________
 Let’s volunteer
 I am going to campaign for
 It’s not fair that ______
 You can depend on me.
• DEVELOPING WILL AND MORAL COURAGE
The following are tips or suggestions on how to develop
will and moral courage.
a. Develop and practice self discipline
One way to develop moral courage and will is to develop and
practice self discipline. The concept self discipline involves the
rejection of instant gratification in favor of something better.
Ethically applied, it may refer to the giving up of instant
pleasure and satisfaction for a higher and better goal such as
executing a good rational moral decision.
• Developing will and moral courage involves developing self
control. It includes nurturing the ability to stick to actions,
thoughts, and behavior, which lead to moral improvement and
success. It encompasses endowing the inner strength to focus
all the energy on a moral goal and persevere until it is
accomplished.
b. Do mental strength training. This method is never reserved
for a few special people. One of the most simple methods until
this mental strength training involves declining to satisfy
unimportant and unnecessary desires.
• Everybody is normally confronted and tempted by an endless
stream of cravings and temptations, many of which are not
actually important or desirable. By practicing to refuse to
gratify everyone of them, a person gets courageous and
stronger.
• Saying no to useless, harmful, unnecessary desires and deeds,
and behaving contrary to one’s bad habits, fortify and refine a
person’s mind set. By persistent practice, one’s inner power
grows, in the same way working out one’s muscles at a gym
increases one’s physical strength. In both cases, when a person
needs inner power or physical strength, they are available at
his/her disposal.
The following are some examples. Some of them are not necessarily
ethically related:
 Don’t open the internet for a day or two.
 Drink water or juice, in spite of your desire to have a beer or liquor.
 Avoid chatting with your gossipy friend.
 For a week, go to sleep one hour earlier than usual.
 Resist the desire to gamble.
Trainings like these add to the storehouse of one’s inner strength. By
following a methodical method of training, a person can reach far,
have more control over oneself and one’s life, realize ethical goals,
improve his/her life and achieve satisfaction and peace of mind.
c. Draw inspiration from people of great courage. People usually
admire and respect courageous persons who have won great
success by manifesting self discipline and will power. These
include people in all walks of life, who with sheer will power and
moral courage, overcame difficulties and hardships, have
improved their moral life, advanced on the spiritual or moral path
and became worthy of imitation.
History is filled with outstanding examples of moral whom we
rightly celebrate, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi,
Aung San Suu Kyi, and especially Jesus Christ and his apostles.
When we are individuals put their comfort, safety, security,
reputation, or even life on the line for a cause they believe in, or
for an ideal that matters more than personal wellbeing, we
witness moral courage and will in action.
d. Repeatedly do acts that exhibit moral courage and will.
Practice makes perfect. If one wishes to nurture the moral
courage and will in him, he must strive doing the acts that
manifest them whenever opportunity allows it. The following
are some examples:
 Helping someone push a car even if it means being late.
 Standing up to a bully on the playground
 Picking up litter
 Doing homework or chores without being reminded.
 Refusing to listen or to repeat gossip
e. Avoid deeds that show lack of moral courage and will. This
involves evading acts that show irresponsibly, cowardice,
apathy, rashness, imprudence, ill will and wickedness. Here
are some example.
 Walking away from someone in need.
 Taking than your fair share.
 Laughing at someone’s misfortune or accident.
 Grabbing the spotlight from someone who has earned it.