The document discusses the concept of moral courage as a fundamental virtue involving the ability to face ethical dilemmas and act according to one's values despite potential risks. It outlines various elements of courage, such as self-confidence, conviction, integrity, leadership, and compassion, while contrasting moral courage with its absence through examples. Additionally, it highlights the importance of recognizing ethical situations, making moral decisions, and accepting responsibility for one's actions.

1. THE MORAL COURAGE
RYAN JAVIER CUMBE
Instructor

2. COURAGE
Courage is one of the four fundamental virtues in the
enduring tradition of moral character as identified by Plato
(Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2007). Figure
2 contains the definition of moral character and other ethical
terms used in this article. The other three fundamental
virtues are temperance, justice, and wisdom. Moral courage
is the ability to deal with the dilemmas inherent between
these four virtues, along with an ability to endure distress,
and the ability to overcome fear and stand up for one’s
values.

3. COURAGE
Courage is required to take action
when one has doubts or fears about the
consequences. Moral courage therefore
involves deliberation or careful thought.

4. ELEMENTS OF COURAGE
SELF-CONFIDENCE.
Courageous people believe in themselves. They know who
they are and what they stand for. They have strong values,
recognize their personal capabilities, and are confident in
meeting the challenges that lie before them. Courageous
people are passionate and purposeful. You can sense
courageous people when they walk into a room — they have
bounce in their step, maintain a positive outlook, and are
comfortable in their own skin.

5. ELEMENTS OF COURAGE
CONVICTION.
You always know where courageous people stand.
They’re passionate about their beliefs and values
and have consistent and predictable behavior. They
don’t blindly follow the crowd, waffle in the face of
adversity, or change their opinion unless the
change is supported by a strong, factual case.

6. ELEMENTS OF COURAGE
INTEGRITY.
Courageous people know the difference between
right and wrong. They don’t just talk about honor;
they live it every day by following the letter, as well
as the spirit, of the law. They are trustworthy,
objective, fair, and tolerant, and they stand up
against injustice — backing their words with action.

7. ELEMENTS OF COURAGE
LEADERSHIP.
Courageous people aren’t deterred by adversity or
afraid of what people may think of them. Courageous
leaders motivate people with personal charisma,
expertise, integrity, and respect rather than by using
their position or authority as a crutch. Courageous
people are tough, but fair. While they may ask others to
achieve the “impossible,” they ask of others only what
they’re willing to do themselves.

8. ELEMENTS OF COURAGE
COMPASSION.
Courageous people put other people’s
needs ahead of their own. They know that
the Captain must go down with the ship
and that being selfless helps to gain the
respect of friends and colleagues.

9. ELEMENTS OF COURAGE
OBJECTIVITY.
Courageous people understand the importance of trust,
honesty, and full disclosure while confronting people
who hide behind untruths. They believe that people are
willing to make tough decisions if the options are
presented to them in an open, honest, and objective
manner. They also believe that people should admit
their mistakes, learn from them, and move on rather
than waste precious time playing politics.

10. ELEMENTS OF COURAGE
STRENGTH IN ADVERSITY.
Courageous people aren’t afraid of swimming
against the tide or challenging the status quo.
They stare adversity in the eye — running toward
the problem rather than away from it. They know
that saying “no” to one idea may enable them to
say “yes” to another, and that old ways of doing
things shouldn’t stand in the way of a better.

11. ELEMENTS OF COURAGE
CHANGE MASTERS.
Courageous people step outside their
comfort zone to meet the challenges that
lie ahead. They know that change is part
life and that some of the greatest
have been realized by embracing change.

12. ELEMENTS OF COURAGE
EMBRACE THE UNKNOWN.
Courageous people follow their
intuition. If information required
to make a good decision isn’t
available, they follow their
instincts.

13. ELEMENTS OF COURAGE
ACTION.
Courageous people put their money
where their mouth is. They know that it’s
not enough to talk about doing
something — instead, they act.

14. MORAL COURAGE
is the courage to take action
for moral reasons despite the risk
of adverse consequences.

15. MORAL COURAGE
“doing the right thing even at the
risk of inconvenience, ridicule,
punishment, loss of job or security
or social status, etc.”

16. WILL
It refers to that capacity of the
mind chooses at the moment
of making decision.

17. The strongest desire from
among the various desires
present.
WILL

18. ELEMENTS OF MORAL COURAGE

19.  a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine,
or assumption
 a rule or code of conduct
 habitual devotion to right principles a man
of principle
 the laws or facts of nature underlying the working
of an artificial device
PRINCIPLE

20.  exposure or liability to injury, pain,
harm, or loss
 a case or cause of danger
 archaic : JURISDICTION
 obsolete : REACH, RANGE
 obsolete : HARM, DAMAGE
DANGER

21.  the ability to withstand hardship or
adversity
 the act or an instance of enduring or
suffering
 PERMANENCE, DURATION
ENDURANCE

22. MILLER ELEMENTS OF
MORAL COURAGE
• Recognizing a moral or ethical situation
• Making a moral choice or decision
• Acting upon the decision

23. •Accepting responsibility for the decision and behavior
•Fearing the consequences of the decision and actions but
overcoming it
•Can be developed by practice and imitation of good role models
– Who are your heroes?
MILLER ELEMENTS OF
MORAL COURAGE

24. MORAL COURAGE LOOKS LIKE:
•turning in a toy or a wallet to the Lost and Found
•a teen who calls home for a ride from a party where alcohol is being served
•a teacher who gives all students an equal voice regardless of race,
socioeconomic status, religion, gender or sexual orientation
•a company whistle blower risking job loss, financial cost, and or legal
repercussion
•reporting a crime
•participating in a peaceful protest

25. • helping someone push a car out of a snowbank, 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 to or repeat gossip
• practicing what you preach, even when no-one is looking or knows
MORAL COURAGE LOOKS LIKE:

26. LACK OF MORAL COURAGE LOOKS LIKE:
• walking away from someone in need
• taking more than your fair share
• laughing at someone’s misfortune or accident
• grabbing the spotlight from someone who has earned it
• placing too much reliance on the letter rather than the spirit of the
law

27. •remaining silent in the face of wrong-doing or injustice
•rationalizations or justifications for action/lack of action
•being inconsistent or capricious with rules and standards for our children
•choosing sides after seeing which way the wind is blowing
•breaking a promise
•lying or cheating
LACK OF MORAL COURAGE LOOKS LIKE:

28. MORAL COURAGE SOUNDS LIKE:
•“I believe strongly in _________.”
•“That joke was offensive to women/Muslims/the disabled/etc.”
•“Let’s volunteer.”
•“Dad, I’m in trouble.”
•“I am going to campaign for __________.”
•“It’s not fair that ____________.”

29. •“I broke this, Mom. I’m sorry.”
•“I’ll march with you.”
•“No, thanks, I don’t want to hear a secret!”
•“You shouldn’t talk behind her/his back.”
•“Will you sign this petition?”
•“You can depend on me.”
MORAL COURAGE SOUNDS LIKE:

30. LACK OF MORAL COURAGE SOUNDS LIKE:
•“It’s none of my business.”
•“She got what she deserved.”
•“That’s got nothing to do with me.”
•“How could you do this to me?”
•“It’s not for me to judge.” *
•“I only did it once.”
•“This is all your fault!”

31. • “Just let it slide.”
• “There’s no use trying to change the system, it’s just too
strong.”
• “Nobody else is doing anything about it, why should I?”
• “I might get into trouble.”
• “Don’t make waves.”
• “Nobody ever gives me a break.”
LACK OF MORAL COURAGE SOUNDS LIKE: