Fearless? Peter Weir, the sage, and the fragility of goodness

Journal article

Sharpe, Matthew. (2017). Fearless? Peter Weir, the sage, and the fragility of goodness. Philosophy and Literature. 41(1), pp. 136-157. https://doi.org/10.1353/phl.2017.0009
AuthorsSharpe, Matthew
Abstract

Rafael Yglesias's Fearless, adapted for film by Peter Weir, stages a striking ethical reflection on the nature of the best human life. Section 1 looks at the film's portrayal of Max Klein, an ordinary man who becomes "fearless" after conquering his worst fear. Max exhibits a profile of supererogatory virtues recalling those of the classical sage, yet section 2 argues that Fearless as a whole presents a powerful criticism of such a "fearless" life. Echoing criticisms of the invulnerability of the sage in Michel de Montaigne and Martha Nussbaum, Fearless's true hero is its less ostentatious heroine: Max's wife, Laura.

Year2017
JournalPhilosophy and Literature
Journal citation41 (1), pp. 136-157
PublisherJohns Hopkins University Press
ISSN0190-0013
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1353/phl.2017.0009
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85022025415
Page range136-157
Publisher's version
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All rights reserved
File Access Level
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Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online2017
Publication process dates
Deposited07 Nov 2023
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