The exact definition of honor is debated over. The definition that will be used for this discussion is having integrity and a willingness to benefit others. The concept and definition of honor has been around for long time. Since it has been around so long it has both changed over time, and over cultures. In many different cultures honor is a varied concept. Such as the American version of honor is unlike the medieval Europe’s version of honor. Even the American version of honor has changed over time. The most ancient recorded ideas of honor include the idea of confidence. Reed Bonadonna from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy states in a discussion about honor that “Aristotle’s account of honor in the Ethics and the Rhetoric generally equates
…show more content…
Even back in the beginnings of the U.S., most people viewed common courtesy as honor. Throughout the years though, the acts seen as honorable acts has increased as the value of honor to the youth decreased. The only outlier in this is the army, navy, and similar military operations. To them, honor is defending the country at any cost. Even if they die for our freedom, it is seen as honor, and may be the only view of true honor in current times. The leaders of the U.S. army even say that “Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity and personal courage in everything you do” (Army). They are the only ones who carry true honor about them through their values. They are not the only ones who have had honor in their military system though. Back in medieval times the knights had a code of Chivalry. This is essentially honor, and they lived by their own code of honor, which may have been just as honorable as today’s military view of honor. The knights back in the medieval times believed chivalry to be “gallant knightly values including honor, bravery, courteousness and honesty” (Medieval life and times). They too carry honor through their own values. Their system of honor worked for them back then, and still could potentially be used as a form of honor
Even back in the beginnings of the U.S., most people viewed common courtesy as honor. Throughout the years though, the acts seen as honorable acts has increased as the value of honor to the youth decreased. The only outlier in this is the army, navy, and similar military operations. To them, honor is defending the country at any cost. Even if they die for our freedom, it is seen as honor, and may be the only view of true honor in current times. The leaders of the U.S. army even say that “Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity and personal courage in everything you do” (Army). They are the only ones who carry true honor about them through their values. They are not the only ones who have had honor in their military system though. Back in medieval times the knights had a code of Chivalry. This is essentially honor, and they lived by their own code of honor, which may have been just as honorable as today’s military view of honor. The knights back in the medieval times believed chivalry to be “gallant knightly values including honor, bravery, courteousness and honesty” (Medieval life and times). They too carry honor through their own values. Their system of honor worked for them back then, and still could potentially be used as a form of honor