Ethics of Expression in Greco-Roman and Chinese Tradition

Ethic of expression or ethos is one of the three elements, together with logos and pathos, comprising the ways of rhetorical persuasion. It is generally assumed both in the West and the East that the character of a speaker or a writer is embedded in his/her expressions. In ancient Greece, Plato represents an idealistic view of ethos because he admits no barrier between the moral virtue (s) of a speaker and his/her expressions. Aristotle is more lenient and realistic, since he argues for neutrality in value judgment of the art of rhetoric itself. These two different views of the character and ethics of expression repeat themselves, mutatis mutandis, in Rome and other European countries. Augustine and other Christian rhetoricians follow the tracks of Plato; Cicero is nearer to the side of Aristotle. The realistic view of ethos reaches its acme in Machiavelli's realpolitik. In the Orient, especially in China and other Confucian countries, great emphasis is put on the importance of the ethics of expression. Here writing, both in contents and forms, represents the proper man. Calligraphy is none other than the way and vehicle to deliver the moral virtues of a writer. While the idealistic view of ethos is predominant in the Chinese tradition of rhetorical writing, the contrary view of realism is also found in Hanfei and other legalists. The question of ethos is irretrievably intertwined with the problem of subjectivity of a speaking and writing subject.