Honor. It’s something we hear yelled in movies, books, tv shows, and video games. But what does it really mean, and is it something that affects us outside of fiction?
Kwame Anthony Appiah wrote that “Having honor means being entitled to respect.”, and “An honor code [which Appiah defines as a shared set of norms] says how people of certain identities can gain the right to respect, how they can lose it, and how having and losing honor changes the way they should be treated.” (The Honor Code p. 175).
Of the prompts below, please respond to your choice of 1 or 2 below.
- Do you feel that honor still exists? What is entitled to your respect?
- Can you identify the honor codes at work within our world?
- Do you think honor codes affect you? How?
- Can we use honor to create a basis for a plan of action to address social issues, such as drug addiction or extreme poverty? Explain.
- Does honor keep us in honorable missions or does it create new problems in a globalizing world? Give an example and/or explain?
- Does Honor ever make us turn a blind eye to wrong doing? How?
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ReplyDelete"Can you identify the honor codes at work within our world?"
ReplyDelete-I think there are honor codes all around us. For example, people in the military share a code of honor and I make sure to thank them for their service because I acknowledge the honor that they carry and the respect they deserve. I think religion is also one. There are honor codes within Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, and Christian (etc.) religions where they all share differing sets of norms. Political parties, education, and class also have their own honor codes. There are examples everywhere--we jut simply need to be observant of them.
Beyond the various sections of this blog, I’ve not read Appiah and so am not able to give the more informed response here that your own class reading deserves. I also recognize that the term “honor” has been hijacked by fanatics of many different religious and ideological persuasions, and I’m assuming that Appiah seeks to define the term in quite different ways, ones that I would find much more acceptable.
ReplyDeleteAll of that said regarding the concept of honor, I still find myself feeling like Stephen Dedalus in the second chapter of Joyce’s Ulysses: “I fear those big words . . . which make us so unhappy.”
The term honor feels as though it directs a person’s reflections inward when that person contemplates an action: “What does my honor code tell me is the right thing to do here?” I’m more inclined myself to look outward, to consider my relationship with someone. The term honor feels as though it shuts down my ability to regard a situation from another person’s point of view.
Rather than “honor,” then, I tend to prefer concepts such as “common decency,” or “respect for shared humanity.” And I recognize that all of the further conceptual definitions here, based on Appiah’s work – cosmopolitanism, race, identity, making conversation – seem fully consistent with my own preferred concepts.
“Honor,” though? Not so much.
Appiah seeks to define honor in a way that is not internal, but in fact the opposite. He seeks to use honor and honor codes in society as an external system of respect and, in a sense, to reward behavior that is good. He acknowledges in his book that honor can often be used for things that are not morally good, such as honor killings, and seeks to change honor codes so that they are aligned with what is "good".
DeleteAppiah uses the example of someone contemplating stealing. He claims that she will refrain from stealing because it is wrong, but she will also have a further incentive to refrain if she knows that she will lose respect for breaking an honor code that values honesty. Besides fearing punishment she likes to be respected.
You want to define honor as "shared respect for humanity" and "common decency", which are both important aspects of the definition, I agree, but fall short of what honor is as a whole. For example, Appiah says that we honor those who achieve great things, or who are better at things than others- as is a fact of life. If we define honor only as you have then we have no way to give honor to those who have exceeded expectations. We have no way to further reward people who are deserving of greater respect.
Also, the context in which Appiah wishes to apply honor is in moral revolutions: making people feel shame at what is wrong, and using honor to encourage what is right. Your definition of honor does not allow for broader uses as in cases of "national honor" in which we feel the shame of what our nation is doing wrong. Common human decency should be expected of us all, as should respect for shared humanity, but the concept of honor is far more reaching and broad in its definition.
When I think of honor, I don't always think about having an honor code, or of treating someone a certain way because they deserve honor. To me, it's intrinsically connected to our identity, a way we live because of who we are. I like Appiah's definition: "being entitled to respect." I think honor implies acting towards oneself and others in a way that holds up our beliefs. Because if we do this, we are respecting ourselves and our beliefs. We are living in a way that shows that our life has value and merits respect.
ReplyDeleteI believe that honor is alive today; however, it is downplayed in our culture. The interactions and points of emphasis in the media often display the opposite of media. It's in the people and places around us that we find true honor.
I definitely agree with you on this, Sofie. I really like the way you put honor- that it is intrinsically connected to our identity and thay our culture downplays it. I don't think we think about honor but only really see it when we need to defend it.
DeleteI really like that and I agree. I believe that honor is observed when we have to defend our honor.
DeleteSometimes a noun, sometimes a verb, depends on the situation. In most situations (whether noun or verb, and in line with my earlier post above): I prefer your term -- respect -- over "honor."
ReplyDeleteIn my humble opinion, we are more concerned with honor as a noun than a verb. Many people like to say that they are honorable but when it comes doing honorable acts many fall short.
ReplyDeleteI think honor is still very prevalent today, to defend our country today is very honorable for example. With respect to honor and turning a blind eye in a wrong situation, I think of the movie American Sniper and the character Chris Kyle. Chris Kyle was the best sniper in American history and he had to make many difficult judgement calls in order to protect the thousands of other people. I believe Kyle is an honorable man. He had to kill people in order to save people. It is upsetting that people had to die but in their death the world has become a better place. During his funeral procession it is evident that he was an American hero for his brave actions, at the same time he ignore that fact that he killed many people to ensure our safety here at home.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that serving in the military and defending our country is very honorable. I will caution you. One of the things I didn't like about the film was the fact that it did justify killing other people, in fact it celebrated it. Shouldn't we celebrate diplomatic victories and show the world that conversation can resolve conflicts? With all due respect to Chris Kyle, who I thank for his service, I do not believe he was an honorable man. There were and are several lawsuits filed against his estate. Some have no ground to them but others do. For example, he claimed that most of the proceeds to his book were going to a Veteran's Charity, however, its been proven that most of the profit went to himself. I would also point out that the language in the book is hateful and sometimes ignorant in many areas regarding Islam and the Middle East. Chris Kyle was a hero, but I do not believe he was particularly honorable.
DeleteRobbie, I would agree with you to a point. Some of the things he has done, with slander in the book towards random people as well as regarding Islam are distasteful. I do not feel it dishonors what he did on the battlefield. I understand that diplomatic victories through conversations are essential to the future of our world, but Chris Kyle acted out the orders of those above him. As the Navy Sailor's Creed goes "I will defend and support the constitution of the United States of America, and will obey the orders of those appointed over me." Chris Kyle may have done dishonorable things in his life, and certain people may not feel that he is honorable because of the, but that does not mean he is not entitled to our respect. and for his service to this great country he will be forever endowed with that respect.
DeleteNick, I do respect him and I truly thank him for his service. But you need to be careful when you are saying that "he was just following orders" that can take you down a dangerous road. I get that he swore to defend the constitution but when was he ordered to slander innocent people or lie about where most of the proceeds to his book were going? Again I want to be clear that I respect him and all those in our military. I support the soldiers, not the war.
DeleteEach person may have their own definition of what makes a person honorable or not. In regards to Kris Kyle, his honor code is something that very few can understand. His honor for his country was immeasurable, and his honor to his fellow soldiers was greater. He would protect his soldiers to the very end and in fact did. His strict honor code saved many lives by killing others. People who have never lived in such a world will look at such actions and deem them dishonorable, but I wonder how those who were under his protection would judge his acts?
DeleteI totally agree with you, the proceeds of the book is a huge blow to his character, not disputing that. But that is not something he did in the war, most of it was done after his death. His job was to be committed to what he was told. I don't agree with some of the things that the war has made people do, but war is something that most of us have never been in, and hindsight is always 20/20. Robbie you are right on his post war life, but in war its a different story.
DeleteAnd I wonder how the families of his victims feel about his honor code. That code could fuel them to take vengence against their father/mother/brothers killer and the country he represents. I don't want to be misunderstood. I respect Chris Kyle but some of his actions were not those of an honorable man. You are right that there are multiple definitions of honor and each person has their own code. Isn't that dangerous? It's the same mentality that led to duels and blood feuds. Which is why I think we should be honoring those that push for conversation.
DeleteNick I completely agree that war makes people do things that are terrible and they wouldn't normally do. I also will never presume to understand that life because I am not in the military and have not experienced war.
DeleteIf we talk about honor like a noun, then, I would say that honor has a defining role in my life. My family, immediate and extended, is well-educated and for the sake of honor, you could say that I also wanted to attend college and improve my education. In my family, I am the first person to pursue a doctorate degree, which I was astounded to figure out. In this case, the honor of my family, coupled with their encouragement, convinced me to work hard in my studies. For my family, disenrolling in school would be dishonorable because my family has set that precedent, that expectation, to go to college. This could be unfair. After all, there are those who become successful and do not attend college, but in our diversified world, I believe this is narrowing.
ReplyDeleteJared, to play the devil's advocate, what if you dropped out of college but ended up doing something extremely meaningful. Would your family still dishonor you?
ReplyDeleteHonor codes effect me every day... You go through life each day working to gain respect from your peers, family, & anyone else that you come into contact with... In order to gain their respect we do things that we think are honorable: go to school, play sports, go to church, give to charity, & other things that put us in a better light to make them think more highly of us which would in turn garner their respect... With that being said... our situations, peer groups, & up bringing determine what we find honorable & how we feel we could gain the respect of everyone...
ReplyDeleteChris, do you think this idea overlaps with caring about what others think of us? Could it get to a point where is unhealthy to this this way?
DeleteTo understand the true meaning of honor, one should travel to Japan. As an ex-flight attendant member, when I travelled to Japan, I experienced various examples of honor in the Japanese culture.
ReplyDeleteHere are few examples;
When I used to work in the premium cabins, everything would be served with two hands. Nothing would be handed to customers with one hand.
If you have Japanese visitors in your home and they are leaving the house, Japanese guests leaving the house would not turn their back to you until you close the door. After the door is closed, guests will turn their back to you and leave.
I asked a Japanese colleague once how people are raised to be respectful to each other in their culture? She said, Japanese people honor life and live a life the way so life is honored and respected.
Hope you enjoyed reading a bit about the Japanese culture and the way honor is practiced.
That is very interesting, we read about Chinese foot binding and how that was a form of honor and was seen as beautiful. The part about the guest never turning their back is really fascinating to me and why they do it. Is it to show respect to the host for allowing them in their home. Overall very interesting in providing a different approach to honor. Thank you for sharing that with us.
DeleteOne part of Appiah's definition of an honor code I don't see touched upon directly here is that such code (whether treated under the name "honor" or not) governs how and when people are either not afforded or no longer afforded respect.
ReplyDeleteYes, I realize that addresses the starting text, not the discussion prompts. I am a rebel, but I do this out of respect for the conversation, not as a way of disregarding it.
In any event I can quickly hide my offense by bringing this around to the final prompt on wrongdoing. For, as an explicit or implicit consensus on when respect is not given an honor code can not only turn a blind eye to wrongdoing, but even a wide open eye.
For instance, historically slave societies ancient and less ancient have never considered a slave as someone worthy of the same respect as a citizen or even to be respected as a person rather than livestock.
By the same token though a honor code is also presupposed in any attempt to reform an acceptable social evil. To use the slavery example, any movement of abolition presupposes a society where certain forms of respect are granted to all non-enslaved members of a society and seeks on that basis to extend the accepted norm of respect to the enslaved.
Probably not the best example, but it was the first workable thing that came to mind.
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