On Courage

It has always seemed to me that courage is the key to great philosophy perhaps more than anything else.  Seeing the truth has been difficult through the ages because truth requires courage to see in the history of ideas, and also amid the knowledge of ones time, which can often be not truthful.  With courage comes clearness, less complication, whereas lack of courage brings obfuscation.

Unfortunately it is often timid men who become intellectuals and their writings often reflect their timidity. There are exceptions but not many. This seems to be why folk culture often seems more truthful, courageous men don't seem to become intellectuals. This also explains why high culture needs to be the superstructure built over the structure of folk culture.

Aung Kyi said it's not power that corrupts but fear. One can be born with natural courage or one can cultivate courage by refusing to let fear dictate ones actions. The philosophers and writers I like all seem to be, at least, courageous.