There have been many books written about courage. About cowardice, however, there has only been one. The author of this lone book onb cowardice joins me today to talk about why cowardice, though much ignored, is at least equally important to understand as courage, and how the fear of the former may actually serve as a stronger motivator towards doing daring deeds.
His name is Chris Walsh, and his book is Cowardice: A Brief History. Today on the show, Chris explains how a coward can be defined as "someone who, because of excessive fear, fails to do what he is supposed to do," and yet how the assumptions behind this definition can be hard to pin down. We discuss why cowardice has been so condemned through time, so much so that in the military it was long considered a crime worthy of execution. We also discuss why the fear of being a coward is so tied into manliness, and why that label constitutes the worst insult you can level at a man. Chris delves into the way external checks on cowardice, the depersonalization and technologization of war, and the rise of the therapeutic lens on life have diminished the moral heft of cowardice. He then argues that despite this fact, and the way that cultural contempt for cowardice and a personal fear of it can lead to negative effects, it remains an important prod towards doing one's duty and a foundation of moral judgment. We end our conversation with how we can use the fear of cowardice as a positive motivator in our lives.
Resources Related to the PodcastAnxiety Is a Habit — Here's How to Break It
The Fitness Supplements That Actually Work
The Essential Framework for Understanding The Art of War
Why You Like the Music You Do
Authority Is More Important Than Social Skills
Throw a 2-Hour Cocktail Party That Can Change Your Life
The Myths of Trauma
Leadership Lessons from a Disastrous Arctic Expedition
Jane Austen for Dudes
Get a Handle on Your Shrinking Attention Span
The Survival Myths That Can Get You Killed
Escape the Happiness Trap
Dante's Guide to Navigating a Spiritual Journey
Move the Body, Heal the Mind
Kit Carson's Epic Exploits
How to Win Friends and Influence People in the 21st Century
Advice on Achieving Any Long-Haul Dream
Key Insights From the Longest Study on Happiness
Heal the Body With Extended Fasting
7 Journaling Techniques That Can Change Your Life
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West