Courage in Vulnerability as a Psychological Quality and Civic Virtue

Fragility and vulnerability are motifs in both religion and depth psychology. It does not mean that psychology is an evolutionary stage of religion, since these are distinct domains. However, both reflect aspects of human existence that are overlooked in a society oriented on performance and dominance. While in religion the human vulnerability crystallizes in the notion of “mortal” and fragility in the notion of “sinner,” psychoanalysis faces the problem of sensitivity, which is a component of reflection and a necessary condition of personal development, and the problem of complexity, which demands a constant seeking and renewing mental balance. I look at the topic of fragility and vulnerability from a point of view that synthesizes the above-mentioned moments. Through the connected perspective of philosophy, depth psychology, and the history of religion, we examine what can be called “courage in vulnerability.” On a social level it manifests itself as the ability to ask a question sincerely, admit mistake, and to forgive. Although these are the basic elements of an interpersonal relationship with a curative psychological effect, they are suppressed in the field of politics, economics, and social networks, i.e., in the areas that fundamentally determine our life.