What is courage laches?

Laches then defines courage as “an endurance of the soul.” Socrates continues to press Laches to narrow his definition to a “wise endurance of the soul” and then proves to him that courage is actually closer to a foolish endurance of the soul.

Who was laches?

Laches, (born c. 475 bc—died 418), a rich Athenian aristocrat who played a leading part in the first phase of the Peloponnesian War. Laches was an associate of Socrates and was a conservative.

How is Socrates ignorant?

The god who speaks through the oracle, he says, is truly wise, whereas human wisdom is worth little or nothing (Apology 23a). This awareness of one’s own absence of knowledge is what is known as Socratic ignorance, and it is arguably the thing for which Socrates is most famous.

What does Socrates say about courage?

Socrates’ objection: courage is a noble and advantageous quality; but foolish endurance is evil and hurtful; hence the definition is too wide (192d).

What is a doctrine of laches?

A doctrine in equity that those who delay too long in asserting an equitable right will not be entitled to bring an action.

How does Socrates call into question the notion with Laches that courage is mental persistence?

In response, however, Socrates questions the notion of wise. He asks Laches whether it would be an example of courage if a man were to show endurance by spending his money wisely, knowing that by spending, he will acquire more in the end.

What does Socrates mean by spirited?

An individual possesses courage, Socrates says, when the spirited part of his soul, or thumoeides, “preserves what is announced by rational accounts” in the face of opposition from unruly appetites within the individual’s soul (442b–c).

When can you use laches?

To claim Laches as a defense, a defendant needs to show that his status has changed because of the unreasonable delay in filing the lawsuit. He also needs to show that the delay is putting him in a worse position than if the claim had been filed in a reasonable amount of time.