English 101 Ethos

Ethos

Give credit where credit is due

The Origin of Ethos:

Writing is never easy. Whether you’re trying to come up with a subject to write about or trying to piece your story together there’s always a small hiccup. Yet there are those who can piece together a masterpiece of an essay but don’t receive the amount of credit that should be given.

Ethos is the acknowledgment of the work that others do. In definition it is the sociology/fundamental character or spirit of a culture; the underlying sentiment that informs the beliefs, customs, or practices of group/society: dominant assumptions of people/period. I know that was pretty confusing, it confused me while I was writing it. So let me further help by breaking down exactly what ethos is. To start ethos is from Greek origins relating to character, meaning disposition of a community, group, or person. It’s the moral element in dramatic literature that determines a character action rather than his/her thought or emotion and abiding quality.

The term ethos dates back to Aristotle in regards to persuasion. He talks about attempting to confirm credibility for a writer/speaker. Aristotle begins to tell of the character or emotions of a speaker/writer. These are made in attempts to persuade the audience. It is distinguished from pathos (which is the emotion the writer/speakers induce). He tells of ethos being a spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations. It’s often translated as some variation of credibility or truth worthiness. He also refers to the elements of speech that reflects the particular character of the speaker/writer. Notice Aristotle often uses ethos as another meaning for author. This is because he often uses it more as the author’s perspective.

''Ethical Proof:''

Another way people view ethos is in the way of ethical principle. It’s the voluntary choice: speakers, intelligence, character, and comprehended qualities. This resembles rhetorical invention. William Shakespeare regards to ethos in “Ancient Rhetoric speech”. He regards it to usages, habits, and traditions of one social group distinguished from one another. Ethos at this point starts to break down in a more complicated way. It can be elevated to the position of “mores”; the concern or conduct deemed so vital to the group practice considered destructive to social “welfare”. (Ethos>mores> welfare principles) Again William Shakespeare refers to ethos as having characteristic traits, rhetorical theory that applies to the principle of ethos.

In the end ethos has to do with audience and how they listen, or whether if they do listen. You must give credit to where credit is due yes as well as having the belief of others. It’s the process of convincing your audience of your own credibility and reliability.