Honor and the Man is a philosophical investigation of
the concept of honor in light of philosophy, history,
literature, and the martial arts. Above all, it is
an effort to understand why our ancestors, and also
some contemporary non-Western cultures prized honor
so highly and sought to keep it spotless. In
particular, it was the author''s wish from the
beginning to understand the psychology of the man who
values honor.
After some preliminary comments, shame, which is
intimately connected with honor, is examined; the
connections of honor to moral virtues are examined,
drawing a wide array of Eastern and Western, ancient
and modern, philosophical, literary, and other
sources; specific issues relating to honor, such as
dueling and suicide, are examined; and a distinction
is drawn between honor and moral virtue.
It is the author''s hope that this work will serve as
an invitation to more profound reflection on this
topic than has often been misunderstood.
the concept of honor in light of philosophy, history,
literature, and the martial arts. Above all, it is
an effort to understand why our ancestors, and also
some contemporary non-Western cultures prized honor
so highly and sought to keep it spotless. In
particular, it was the author''s wish from the
beginning to understand the psychology of the man who
values honor.
After some preliminary comments, shame, which is
intimately connected with honor, is examined; the
connections of honor to moral virtues are examined,
drawing a wide array of Eastern and Western, ancient
and modern, philosophical, literary, and other
sources; specific issues relating to honor, such as
dueling and suicide, are examined; and a distinction
is drawn between honor and moral virtue.
It is the author''s hope that this work will serve as
an invitation to more profound reflection on this
topic than has often been misunderstood.