Reply Obj. 2: Fearlessness by its specific nature corrupts the mean of fortitude, wherefore it is opposed to fortitude directly. But in respect of its causes nothing hinders it from being opposed to other virtues.
Reply Obj. 3: The vice of daring is opposed to fortitude by excess of daring, and fearlessness by deficiency of fear. Fortitude imposes the mean on each passion. Hence there is nothing unreasonable in its having different extremes in different respects. _______________________
QUESTION 127
OF DARING*
[*Excessive daring or foolhardiness]
(In Two Articles)
We must now consider daring; and under this head there are two points of inquiry:
(1) Whether daring is a sin?
(2) Whether it is opposed to fortitude? _______________________
FIRST ARTICLE [II-II, Q. 127, Art. 1]
Whether Daring Is a Sin?
Objection 1: It seems that daring is not a sin. For it is written (Job 39:21) concerning the horse, by which according to Gregory (Moral. xxxi) the godly preacher is denoted, that "he goeth forth boldly to meet armed men [*Vulg.: 'he pranceth boldly, he goeth forth to meet armed men']." But no vice redounds to a man's praise. Therefore it is not a sin to be daring.