Ethos refers to how trust worthy a person is. Ethos is used as an appeal to a moral philosophy or reliable integrity in a person. It attempts to signify credibility within the speaker. It is an effective strategy because it automatically inserts belief in the speakers credibility because of a higher educational or moral standing in society. A doctor is good example. People hold a doctors power of reasoning in high regard. Same with a judge because a certain trust is automatically implied. It can be used to challenge the reliability or moral stance in an argument.
Pathos is another powerful device. This appeals to emotion. It's always loaded with vivid illustrations that trigger our psychic buttons. The speaker wants the listener or reader to be persuaded by the emotional value this type of argument can generate. Packed with sympathy and empathy they dim the analytical processing of rational thought. The more people react to this type of rhetoric the more they become least likely to ask the big question(s). Like WHY? In many instances they're used in calls to action within a group or society.
Logos denotes an appeal to logic and reasoning. Logos is tricky because it relies on theories and abstract language. They include definitions, factual data, and statistics. Including learned comments by authoritative sources with Ethos driven opinions. Logos tries to give the best sources and reasoning. Appeals are taken as matter of facts and are useful in persuading others to believe a conclusion.
Logos is tricky because it relies on theories and abstract language. This includes definition, factual data, and statistics. Logos tries to give the best sources and reasoning. Appeals are taken as matter of facts and are useful in persuading others to believe a conclusion. Cherry picking is a common practice.
Anything really thoughtful is subjugated to ad hominem prejudice by any who hold high authority. For a reason! I think the value of Ethos has been taken over to shield these powers from the common people. Inserting passive pathos against the masses and using logos to fool common sense. Turning knowledge into a commodity. Even simple trade knowledge is being suppressed.
Yes, knowledge is a commodity...
Criticizing knowledge itself and denying the possibility of a universal truth makes knowledge dependent on the individual knower. This is an old concept meaning that your ideas are as good as mine and that there is no objective truth that is absolute for all men and women. With that in mind it became necessary to investigate thinking in a carefully framed theory of knowledge. Today we call this logic: a set of laws and a blueprint to work within the science of thought.
Common sense for the masses is based on consumerism. Using desire to tease out an emotional response. The tools to learn new things for the individual knower are there.
But, they're obscured by thunderous clouds of wanton emotion. Raining torrential temptations down on the common mind to befuddle it with endless addictions that go nowhere.
Combined with pathos, logic is used to affect our emotional outlook, add the power of authority to that and you really got something to dictate opinion on a grand scale.
Does this do a society well?
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