Book 3 / Chapter 8
Paragraph 2 - The Courage of the Citizen-Soldier
Explanation - Part By Part
"First comes the courage of the citizen-soldier; for this is most like true courage. Citizen-soldiers seem to face dangers because of the penalties imposed by the laws and the reproaches they would otherwise incur, and because of the honours they win by such action; and therefore those peoples seem to be bravest among whom cowards are held in dishonour and brave men in honour."
Aristotle is discussing different forms of courage, and the first one he highlights is the courage displayed by citizen-soldiers. He suggests that this kind of courage closely resembles "true" courage, but it isn't quite the same. Citizen-soldiers often face dangers not purely out of virtue or moral conviction, but because of external pressures. These pressures include the fear of punishment by law for cowardice, the social shame or criticism one might face for not being brave, and the desire for rewards like honor and recognition for bravery.
In societies where cowardice is strongly condemned and bravery is highly praised, people are more likely to display this type of courage. However, Aristotle hints that their motivation comes from these societal incentives rather than an internal, virtuous sense of courage. Essentially, their bravery is strongly tied to how society judges them, rather than being entirely self-motivated or about doing what is right for its own sake.
"This is the kind of courage that Homer depicts, e.g. in Diomede and in Hector:"
Here, Aristotle is pointing out that the type of courage he just described—the courage of a citizen-soldier—is well illustrated in Homer’s epic stories, specifically in characters like Diomede (Diomedes) and Hector. These figures embody a kind of bravery driven by societal expectations, personal reputation, and the fear of shame more than pure inner virtue. Their actions are fueled by the desire to avoid dishonor in the eyes of their peers and to achieve recognition for their bravery.
In other words, Aristotle is using these famous literary examples to highlight the idea that this type of courage isn't necessarily "true" virtue-driven courage but rather a socially motivated form of bravery. They act courageously because they want to live up to their community's ideals of honor and avoid being condemned as cowards.
"First will Polydamas be to heap reproach on me then; and For Hector one day 'mid the Trojans shall utter his vaulting harangue: Afraid was Tydeides, and fled from my face."
In this part, Aristotle is citing Homer, specifically passages from the Iliad, to help explain the idea of "citizen-soldier courage." The verses reflect a soldier's concern with societal honor and fear of disgrace. Hector (a Trojan hero) is expressing an internal motivation—the fear that others, like Polydamas, might publicly shame him for cowardice or inability to face an enemy (in this case, Tydeides, another name for the Greek hero Diomedes). The idea is that Hector feels a deep obligation to maintain his reputation and avoid the dishonor of being accused of fear or retreat.
This serves as an example of Aristotle’s point: in many societies, soldiers are motivated to face danger not only because they are brave in the purest sense but also because of external pressures—laws, rewards, and the social consequences of being branded a coward or praised as a hero. It’s not raw courage in its ideal form, but it closely resembles it because it results in bravery through socially enforced values.
So, the essence here is how societal norms around honor and shame shape people's actions, driving them to perform courageous deeds out of fear of dishonor and desire for recognition.