Yet in egotistically cultivating a virtue this is a rational line of choice. Sometimes those who behave rashly are lucky and are rewarded. But on other occasions survival may requirs cowardice. It is difficult to decide in advance to switch dispositions on and off at will. Mackie suggests that at the moment when bravery would be fatally rash, the rationale for this choice is likely to be based on having been a whimp at other times when it was better to be show courage.
Discretion is the better part of valor.
The motive for morality This resource was prepared by Chris Jarvis for the BOLA project.