Talya wrote:
Arathain Kelvar wrote:
Whether you view it positively or negatively, that is the definition of cowardice.
And no, I don't view it positively. Yes, the cowardly will inevitably put themselves at less risk, to the woe of the species.
I think you are forgetting something in this formula: the values of the person in question.
Cowardice is not about whether fear influences your actions. It is about whether you allow fear to override rational thinking, or to compromise your values.
If you fail to act to save children when you think you should, because you are afraid, then that is cowardice.
If you think about your fear, and in the end, value your own life more than the life of some random child you do not know, you are not being a coward. It is not cowardly to do the smart thing to get the results that you find most favorable. Fear is merely an indicator of danger. Heeding fear to run for your life from a wild animal is not cowardice -- standing there and facing it is stupid. It's only when the animal threatens something you value more than your life, and fear stops you from reacting properly, that you're being a coward.
Most of the time, acting on fear is just being intelligent.
A coward is: a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.; a timid or easily intimidated person.
Now, as I said previously:
Arathain wrote:
Any act or lack of action that is based on fear is, by definition, a cowardly act. If someone fails to protect a child in need out of fear of physical or financial harm, they are a coward by definition. Now, I have granted special consideration to people who just cannot hope to succeed in protecting such a child, as logic may dictate their action rather than fear.