Confidence is a familiar word, yet its depth and complexity often go unnoticed. Philosopher Nathan Rotenstreich provides a rich analysis of confidence. He reveals it as more than just a feeling. It’s a meaningful attitude and an act that shapes how we engage with the world.
What is Confidence?
At its core, confidence is a kind of reliance or dependence. We often think of confidence as trust—”trust in ourselves, in others, or in situations”.
When we speak of self-confidence, we refer to the belief in our own abilities and judgments. Importantly, confidence stands in direct contrast to fear.
Rotenstreich highlights Aristotle’s view, which places a brave person between two extremes: fear and confidence. Too much confidence becomes rashness, while too little leads to cowardice. Aristotle called this the “golden mean” — a balanced confidence is conviction, while excess confidence is more like mere persuasion.
Confidence as an Opinion and an Act
Confidence isn’t just a hidden opinion we keep to ourselves. It is an expression, an outward attitude that breaks through our inner thoughts and manifests in our actions. When you act with confidence, you are demonstrating trust in the outcome, the people involved, or your own abilities.
This expression of confidence is performative — it’s not just what we think but what we do. It’s an act that commits us to rely on something or someone with a sense of certainty.
Is Confidence Always Warranted?
Rotenstreich warns that confidence may be either warranted or unwarranted. We might trust someone or something blindly, or our confidence may be based on solid grounds. This ambiguity is important to recognize. Confidence is not always justified. However, it always involves a certain attitude of trust and hope.
Confidence and Faith
When confidence extends beyond the immediate and into the realm of ideals or the unknown, it becomes faith. For example, having confidence in a divine power is faith. Believing in a future ideal is also faith. It is a special form of confidence that transcends evidence and reason.
The Social and Religious Dimensions of Confidence
Confidence also plays a critical role in our relationships and society. When we trust others, we are engaging in a relationship built on confidence. This could be with a friend, a judge, or a leader. Similarly, religious faith is a form of confidence placed in a higher power. We cannot fully understand its workings.
Confidence Beyond Feeling
Rotenstreich says that confidence is more than just an emotional feeling like sympathy or hope. It is a reflective attitude that can exist even when the reasons behind it are unclear to us.
This reflective nature allows us to have confidence in something or someone. We might not fully grasp how or why. It’s similar to trusting the process of life or a spiritual presence.
Conclusion
Confidence, as Nathan Rotenstreich presents it, is a rich and multi-layered concept. It is an attitude of trust and reliance. This is balanced between fear and rashness. It is expressed through our actions. This attitude is linked deeply to faith and social bonds.
Understanding confidence in this way helps us appreciate its importance. It is not just a personal trait. It is also a fundamental part of human interaction, decision-making, and even spirituality.
Drop your thoughts below!