Foolhardiness

Foolhardiness consists in action that is overbold,unreasonably daring. It is in conflict with reason, and hence is anevil or sin.

The parts of a virtue are its subsidiary orassociated virtues; that is, virtues aligned with it, but notcoextensive with it. The parts of fortitude are listed by Cicero*(De Inv. Rhet.* iii) as: (a) magnificence, or loftyundertaking, with noble purpose of mind; (b) confidence,orfirm hope in the undertaking; (c) patience, or prolongedendurance for virtue’s sake; (d) perseverance, or fixedpersistence in a well-considered purpose.

Foolhardiness sins against the virtue of fortitude byexcess. It is not a reasonable, and even heroic, enduring ofdanger, but a foolish and unreasonable rushing into dangers thatneed not be encountered. Fortitude regulates fears and impulses inthe face of danger; foolhardiness is ill-regulated and wildlyimpulsive. Hence foolhardiness conflicts with fortitude.

THE PARTS OF FORTITUDE