A Trilogy Theory of Moral Cowardice

Abstract

Cowardice is a lack of courage to face danger. Moral cowardice occurs when the taking of a principled stand is avoided because of its risks, especially the disapproval or hostility of others. Moral cowardice is the result of a set of processes that begins with the recognition of a problem and ends with cowardly action. In moral cowardice, principles of moral behavior—whether at the universal, sociocultural, or individual level—are tossed aside. And the individual invents rationalizations to explain to themselves and others why their actions are not really cowardly after all. The more persuasive the rationalizations, the more likely the individual is to behave in a cowardly manner. Moral cowardice seems to be rampant in today’s world, especially among leaders. The article seeks to understand what, exactly, this moral cowardice comprises.