Honor (p1)

Honor

• A fundamental part of culture
• THE axis of operation up and down the social ladder

How we see this:

• "The one firm conviction from which we move to the proof of other points is this: that which is honorable is held dear for no other reason than because it is honorable" (De Ben. 4.16.2).
• Aristotle lists two motives for action: honor and pleasure (Nic. Eth. 3.1.11 [1110b11-12]). Honor is foremost according to Isocrates, Ad Dem. 17, 43.
• A course of action must be honorable, however safe or unsafe (Rhetorica ad Herennium 3.5.8-9). Quintilian, teacher of rhetoric in the 1st century AD claims honor as the main persuasion factor (Institutes 3.8.1).
• Moral teaching:

- Constant use of "it is honorable" or "noble". This can be observed in Ad Demonicus, the Proverbs, Wisdom literature, etc. Honor is the guiding value--the axis of operation.

• Treatment of the body:
  

- The hands of a ruler are kissed [vs.] slapping the face of an inferior
- Crowning the head [vs.] binding, mutilation, and death
- At the table, seats of honor [vs.] places of disgrace, such as being locked outside, or being invited to a patron's banquet merely to witness the wealth and power
- The king on his throne (a higher elevation) [vs.] servants prostrate (bowing down)

• Status - see later entry
• Clothing - more to be said, but contrast the decorated robes of an official to the rags of a beggar
• Treatment of name and lineage:

- Inherited honor comes from lineage--this is one type of honor
- The name of a person is representative of their honor, and thus it serves as a very important indicator. This can tell us much about how the person is viewed.
- Inherited honor is from lineage [and parentage], but this can change. Consider a native Egyptian, in Egypt, being viewed as dishonorable--because the Greeks form the ruling classes.
- Titles are key indicators
- A benefactor of the city would have his name proclaimed at festivals, and may be honored with inscriptions, such as at the base of a statue, or on a building he raised.
- Some people are referred to by their illness, and not their name, ethnicity, lineage, etc. Consider the cripples and paralytics.
- Likewise, some are referred to only by their ethnicity.

Note about challenge-riposte: many attacks can be based on this; insults to ethnicity, lineage, parentage, etc. One interesting insult is, "Who are you?"

to be continued... series based on HP, p.23-42