ETHICS

Here, Aristotle is pointing out another form of what might appear to be courage but isn't truly virtuous courage. He describes situations where people are forced into bravery through external pressures or punishments. For example, leaders might assign soldiers specific posts in battle and punish them if they try to retreat—essentially leaving them with no choice. Similarly, some might create physical barriers, like trenches, behind soldiers, making retreat impossible. This kind of "courage" arises not because the individuals genuinely value bravery or believe it's the right thing to do, but because they are compelled by fear of punishment or the lack of alternatives.

The key idea is that true courage cannot come from coercion; it must come from an internal, voluntary sense of what is good and honorable.

In this line, Aristotle is making an important distinction about courage. He argues that true bravery doesn't come from being forced into action by fear of punishment or external pressure (like rulers threatening or creating barriers to stop retreat). Instead, genuine courage arises from a personal sense of what is noble. Aristotle emphasizes that bravery should be rooted in inner values—acting courageously because it is inherently honorable and virtuous, not because you're afraid of the consequences of running away. True bravery is about choosing to face challenges for the right reasons, not reacting out of fear or coercion.