On Logos, Pathos, and Ethos

Dunning Kruger applies.

As children you follow authority, then how you feel, then logic. In arrogance, we reject feeling and authority as having any legitimacy whatsoever — if we can’t understand it or if it doesn’t fit into a logical framework, it is wrong. We place ourselves in a supreme position of intelligence, in effect diefying ourselves. The rejection of pathos and ethos especially is the elevation of the self beyond nature (pathos) and all others (ethos) including God.

With time, we return to an appreciation of the importance of pathos for the truths that are beyond reason — morality not the least among them.

Finally, in hard earned humility, we realize the brilliance that has come before us and shift the null hypothesis from diefication of the self to diefication of ancient wisdom and elders.