Ethos, in rhetoric, is one of three modes of persuasion explained by Aristotle as a component of an argument. It’s a Greek word meaning “character” and serves the purpose of determining the credibility one has in order to persuade the reader on a specific topic being argued. According to Aristotle, there are three types of ethos; phronesis, arête, and eunoia (Halloran).
Phronesis is a Greek word for wisdom or intelligence. You may think of using this word to describe the basic intelligence of someone but Aristotle thought of it more as Practical Wisdom. Not necessarily how smart you are, but how practically you can use your knowledge and skills to benefit others. Therefore, Aristotle believed that a young mathematician, for example, could not just “have phronesis”. “Gaining Phronesis requires experience…although the young may be experts in Geometry and Mathematics and similar branches of knowledge, we do not consider that a young man can have Prudence (Phronesis). The reason is that Prudence (Phronesis) includes a knowledge of particular facts, and this is derived from experience, which a young man does not a possess; for experience is the fruit of years” (Aristotle).
Arete is the Greek word for virtue, goddess, basically meaning excellence of any kind and living up to one’s full potential. Aristotle believed that the ultimate goal in life for a human is happiness. In order to be fully happy in life, one would have many virtues, and those virtues that have been practiced at their full potential would bring complete happiness in that sector of a person’s life. He describes the necessary steps to achieve this happiness, “righteous actions, often done under the influence of teachers, allow the development of the right habits, which in turn can allow the development of a good stable character, in which the habits are voluntary…” (Aristotle). This ultimately states that happy people are those who always voluntarily know what’s right and act on that knowledge gaining wisdom with years and using it is in a way that will help others.
Eunoia is Greek for “goodwill towards the audience”. In rhetoric it is the relationship the reader cultivates with the audience to gain their trust. Their trust is what gives the reader credibility and the power to persuade the audience. Basically, it is the goodwill that is there to build this type of foundation and allow the relationship to grow and prosper.
The values of phronesis, arête, and eunoia all add up to create the meaning of ethos. Clearly, it brings into perspective many different values of human beings that are taught throughout a lifetime. It may have started from a person’s up bringing, the way that they were raised. Did their parents teach them to have good manners? Not to steal? To treat others the way they would like to be treated? And to be the best that they can be? This is all a foundation to what kind of person you will grow up to be. Will these values remain intact without your parents forcing them upon you? Will you carry these values with you for the rest of your life? It brings me to the question of if this type of training and teaching has an effect on us later on in our lives when there is no one around to enforce it.
Phronesis is a Greek word for wisdom or intelligence. You may think of using this word to describe the basic intelligence of someone but Aristotle thought of it more as Practical Wisdom. Not necessarily how smart you are, but how practically you can use your knowledge and skills to benefit others. Therefore, Aristotle believed that a young mathematician, for example, could not just “have phronesis”. “Gaining Phronesis requires experience…although the young may be experts in Geometry and Mathematics and similar branches of knowledge, we do not consider that a young man can have Prudence (Phronesis). The reason is that Prudence (Phronesis) includes a knowledge of particular facts, and this is derived from experience, which a young man does not a possess; for experience is the fruit of years” (Aristotle).
Arete is the Greek word for virtue, goddess, basically meaning excellence of any kind and living up to one’s full potential. Aristotle believed that the ultimate goal in life for a human is happiness. In order to be fully happy in life, one would have many virtues, and those virtues that have been practiced at their full potential would bring complete happiness in that sector of a person’s life. He describes the necessary steps to achieve this happiness, “righteous actions, often done under the influence of teachers, allow the development of the right habits, which in turn can allow the development of a good stable character, in which the habits are voluntary…” (Aristotle). This ultimately states that happy people are those who always voluntarily know what’s right and act on that knowledge gaining wisdom with years and using it is in a way that will help others.
Eunoia is Greek for “goodwill towards the audience”. In rhetoric it is the relationship the reader cultivates with the audience to gain their trust. Their trust is what gives the reader credibility and the power to persuade the audience. Basically, it is the goodwill that is there to build this type of foundation and allow the relationship to grow and prosper.
The values of phronesis, arête, and eunoia all add up to create the meaning of ethos. Clearly, it brings into perspective many different values of human beings that are taught throughout a lifetime. It may have started from a person’s up bringing, the way that they were raised. Did their parents teach them to have good manners? Not to steal? To treat others the way they would like to be treated? And to be the best that they can be? This is all a foundation to what kind of person you will grow up to be. Will these values remain intact without your parents forcing them upon you? Will you carry these values with you for the rest of your life? It brings me to the question of if this type of training and teaching has an effect on us later on in our lives when there is no one around to enforce it.
Sources:
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics trans. Terence Irwin (2nd edition; Hackett, 1999)
Halloran, Michael. Aristotle's Concept of Ethos, or If Not His, Somebody Else's. 1st ed. Vol. 1. N.p.: Taylor & Francis, 1982. Print. 15 Nov. 2014.
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics trans. Terence Irwin (2nd edition; Hackett, 1999)
Halloran, Michael. Aristotle's Concept of Ethos, or If Not His, Somebody Else's. 1st ed. Vol. 1. N.p.: Taylor & Francis, 1982. Print. 15 Nov. 2014.