Honor

[John812]

I think honor is a concept many people are trying to hide from these days. Even in a society such as Japan, honor, which was a key aspect of their culture for thousands of years, is rapidly slipping away. It was like that in England also, with knights that lived by the code of chivalry. These people were honored because of the good lives and high moral standards they lived by. I think the reason is because people are becoming more and more dishonorable, and the concept of honor makes them feel bad about themselves so they create the illusion that honor is just a silly idea. I think that more and more people are becoming corrupted by western culture - things to do with materialism, being "cool", becoming wealthy, living in pleasure - selfishness is one of the big ones. They live dishonorable lives, and they know it - and many of them don't even admit it, instead they run from such concepts as honor and righteousness, and work to glorify the dishonorable code that they live by. The result, I think, is mainstream modern western culture, which has even infiltrated Japan and is infecting and has infected many other places around the world.


God Bless ya!

 

[Alecto]

Actually there are unspoken rules of honor everywhere you look. Especially, and supprisingly, in schools.

One of the core rules of that honor system is NEVER hit a girl. You could be the most popular guy in school, you backhand your girlfriend and even the lowliest nerd will come hunting you.

There are unspoken honor rules when fighting, verbally or physically. Backing down means loss of honor and face. Turning and running a greater dishonor.

Most men live by some form of an honor code. I personally do.

 

[gwenmead]

The medieval codes of chivalry were based in large part on Andreas Capellanus' "The Art of Courtly Love". Ever actually read that document? I have. It's awful. It's basically a handbook on how to rape women politely. I had a very hard time trying to get anything positive out of it. So I don't for a minute buy that codes of honor, medieval or otherwise, are automatically somehow A Good Thing.

I've also seen too many situations in which a public adherence to a supposed standard of honor was actually masking a double life. I do volunteer work with abuse survivors, for instance, and I can't even begin to count how many of them had perps who looked like really great people to the public, but were inhuman monsters behind closed doors.

Personal integrity, however, is something I respect bigtime, and which isn't entirely gone. As Alecto mentioned, there are still a lot of unspoken "codes of honor" in the world - on the playground, on the 'net, and so on.

Maybe the OP is about the state of ethics in the world today - would that be an accurate interpretation?

 

[John812]

The medieval codes of chivalry were based in large part on Andreas Capellanus' "The Art of Courtly Love". Ever actually read that document? I have. It's awful. It's basically a handbook on how to rape women politely. I had a very hard time trying to get anything positive out of it. So I don't for a minute buy that codes of honor, medieval or otherwise, are automatically somehow A Good Thing.

I havn't read it, but from what you say it doesn't sound very honorable.

I've also seen too many situations in which a public adherence to a supposed standard of honor was actually masking a double life. I do volunteer work with abuse survivors, for instance, and I can't even begin to count how many of them had perps who looked like really great people to the public, but were inhuman monsters behind closed doors.

Yeah, some people can be affected negatively by public support. It can make people feel like they are gods, which is too bad.

Personal integrity, however, is something I respect bigtime, and which isn't entirely gone.

Certainly not. There are many honorable people in the world, ones that do what is good and whose own hearts approve them. I also approve them, and honor them

Maybe the OP is about the state of ethics in the world today - would that be an accurate interpretation?

That's part of it. For many people, there seems to be a lack of ethics - and so a lack of honor. I think many people don't have a sense of honor, and neither do they have a sense of shame. The western culture is glorifying that kind of life style that lacks honor - and is instead focused on selfishness, greed, "coolness". Many people seem to care only about themselves, and look away when they see someone in need.


God Bless ya!