Question

Ethics vs. Ethos
Philosophical ethics distinguishes between what people do value from what people should value. Ethics asks us to step back and rationally evaluate the customary beliefs and values that people do hold. Philosophical ethics requires us to abstract ourselves from what is normally or typically done, and reflect upon whether or not what is done, should be done, and whether what is valued, should be valued. The difference between what is valued and ought to be valued is the difference between ethos and ethics.  Ethos is to conform to what is typically done to obey the conventions and rules of one's society and religion

REQUIRED:
Based on your personal history, give an example of a personal belief, attitude and/or value that makes up your ethos. Explain how it (ethos - your beliefs or family values) affects your decisions.  This must be at least 150 words.

Please post your answer, then respond once to another individual noting what you find different between your ethos and theirs (constructive comments, please not negativity).    Remember, sentence structure and grammar are important.

Answer 1

Ethos, family values, in particular, affect my decisions more so than religion or beliefs. I’m not particularly religious, but I value celebrating the holidays every year with my family. For me personally, the holidays are a time for catching up with relatives. So I do value it personally but that doesn’t mean it should be valued or ought to be valued. It seems like something that would depend on the person and the situation they are in.

At the end of the day, everyone has their own interpretation of ethos and the beliefs that they hold. Some people will turn to their religion when making a decision, while others may put an emphasis on family values. The Golden Rule, treating others the way you’d want to be treated, is something that I feel is very important. Overall, it’s up to the person to decide what affects their decisions and what does not.