Honor

One man’s theology is another man’s belly laugh. [L. Long]

Honor means something very different to most people. But the concept is rather easy. It is “self-respect”. So if honor is in low supply, so I think is self-respect.

Wikipedia summarized it very well: [Honor|Honour] is the evaluation of a person’s trustworthiness and social status based on that individual’s espousals and actions. Honour is deemed exactly what determines a person’s character: whether or not the person reflects honesty, respect, integrity, or fairness. Accordingly, individuals are assigned worth and stature based on the harmony of their actions, code of honour, and that of the society at large. Honour can be analysed as a relativistic concept, i.e., conflicts between individuals and even cultures arising as a consequence of material circumstance and ambition, rather than fundamental differences in principle. Alternatively, it can be viewed as nativist — that honour is as real to the human condition as love, and likewise derives from the formative personal bonds that establish one’s personal dignity and character.

In today’s industrial societies, I believe “Honor” is in low supply. Many managers and politicians showing neither honesty, nor respect, integrity or fairness, as I expressed in my business related Food For Thought-blog.

» Jürgen