by Joshua K. Bradshaw

Created on: January 04, 2010   Last Updated: January 07, 2010

What is bravery?

When someone thinks of the term 'bravery', they think of a courageous person, such as a policeman, firefighter, soldier, lifeguard, or the random good Samaritan who takes the initiative to help someone in distress. They may view a mighty hunter or valiant athlete as the personification of bravery. Or they may think of an activist, protester, dissident, or conscientious objector who takes a stand for what they believe in at great cost to themselves personally. This is especially true when they take a position which is unpopular with the majority or against a tyrannical or unjust government. It may at times be subjective as a cause one person views as worthy of a brave act another may view as foolish.

Can foolhardiness also be bravery?

Let's think about this for a moment.  We'll consider four situations where courage is summoned to deal with a situation and whether or not it is justified. The first example is where two young men engage in a game of 'chicken' ( whereby they both drive cars toward a cliff and try not to be the first to bail out). This stunt accomplishes and proves absolutely nothing and may result in serious injury or death for one or both of the young men. They are obviously immature and have put little or no thought into whether or not their cockiness is necessary. 

The second is where a firefighter enters a burning building to save the life of a small child. The firefighter knows and understands fully the risks involved but performs his duty without hesitation. He may lose his life in his effort to rescue the child, but that is not what he is focused on. He knows his line of work necessitates courage and that the cause is a worthy one. Most if not all people would agree that his line of work is a needed one and respect his bravery. 

The third is where a person enlists as a soldier during wartime. While some agree with his reasons for doing so, others may disagree with his choice to fight in a war they view as unjustified, though they may or may not view his bravery as foolhardiness. The soldier himself sees his enlistment as his patriotic duty and thus in his eyes it is a worthy venture indeed.

The fourth is where a conscientious objector chooses corporal punishment over taking up arms and possibly killing other people when given only those choices. Many may not understand or approve of his decision, feeling he is not supporting his country or putting himself in a difficult situation for the rest of his life, whereas if he served in the military it would only be for a few years. Yet, the conscientious objector is resolute in his determination to reject all violence no matter what the cost.

 In Conclusion

 From what we have seen, there are instances where true courage is absolutely necessary, such as a firefighter rescuing a young child from a burning building. In other circumstances, bravery is confused with foolhardiness, such as when two young men engage in a dangerous stunt for no good reason except not to lose face. And in the case of the soldier and conscientious objector, some will view their choices and actions as foolhardy while others will view them as brave. Yes, the difference between bravery and foolhardiness may be clear cut at certain times and subjective at others.

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