Everything's An Argument Chapter 3: Arguments Based on Character: Ethos Flashcards
(13 cards)
How does Aristotle define ethos?
Powerful argumentative appeal
What do arguments based on Ethos depend on?
trust
What are examples of professionals?
doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, religious leaders
What are experts?
those with knowledge and experience
What three elements add up to ethos?
credibility, authority. and unselfish or clear motives
What do trustworthiness and credibility speak to?
a writer’s honesty, respect for an audience and its values, and plain old likability
How can you establish trustworthiness (other than using logos)?
connecting your own beliefs to core principles that are well established and widely respected
How can you make yourself seem approachable?
speaking to readers directly, using I or you or us, and using contractions or everyday or colloquial language
How does one make their own ethos even more appealing?
by acknowledging their own failings, ironically bolstering their authority
What does simply attaching titles to their name assert?
assert that they hold medical or legal or engineering degrees, or some other important credentials
What questions go to the heart of ethical arguments?
Whose interests are they serving? How will they profit from their proposal?
What is cancel culture?
the practice in online communities of seeking to silence those with whom they disagree rather than debate them
