What is dishonor? Value, definition and examples

What is dishonor? The question is rather difficult not only because an abstract concept will have to be explained, but also because the word itself is practically not used in living, colloquial speech. That is, of course, it can be heard, but in this case the whole action acquires a taste of theatricality. However, we will analyze the notions of "honor", "dishonor", and also consider the role of morality in relations between man and society.

What is honor?

It is difficult to start with dishonor at once, because dishonor is the absence of honor, this is the most general definition. Therefore, duty dictates first to specify what honor is.

The dictionary gives us 6 meanings of the concept.

1. Dignity that causes respect for yourself or other people. It can be a moral, social, professional property.
2. Same as respect, respect.
3. Sign of attention.
4. Something that gives someone special meaning. "This act does you credit."
5. The virginity of a woman, her integrity.
6. An appeal to an official or a person who is above the speaker by social status. We have the dictionary as obsolete. True, in America it is still so addressed to the judges. If you do not believe me, watch a Hollywood movie with a related storyline.

Naturally, based on the interpretation, dishonesty only forms a couple with certain meanings, for example, with the first and the fifth. What is dishonor in this case? Everything is very simple. If a person does not have a certain dignity, for which he is respected, he is dishonorable, or rather, evil, unkind. Do not be surprised, because there is the same opinion that evil is the absence of good.

One can also say that a woman is dishonorable if she does not marry as a virgin. True, for Western culture it is already irrelevant, but the world will not be closed on Europe and America. It is difficult to add dishonor to the other meanings as an antonym.

Definition of dishonor

Now we can give a definition of disgrace with a clear conscience. Again, turn to the dictionary.

1. A scorn of honor, an insult, a shame.
2. A fine that was recovered from one person in favor of another for insult under a court decision (period 14 - early 20 century).

Both values are considered obsolete. Of course, it would be possible to derive an entire theory from this harmless fact, but we will avoid such temptation. We hope that the reader is clear what is dishonor, its definition is quite simple.

Shadow side of honor. The case of Marty McFly

Sometimes honor is not just a virtue that arouses respect from a person or others, but also a certain system of principles adopted in a particular community, for example, military, aristocratic or knightly honor. There is no sense in analyzing the pros and cons of the notions "officer's honor", "knight's honor", "honor of an aristocrat", especially since this was done long ago by the wonderful German philosopher A. Schopenhauer. Let's just say that when honor is a certain internal system of values of a person, then there are no problems. Difficulties begin when honor is an external instrument of human management.

For example, in ancient times an aristocrat publicly insults the other. The latter has no choice but to force a man into a duel. And imagine that the injured party is killed in such a "trial". It's time to ask a philosophical question: "Infamy - what is it, is it worth living?" Especially when the subject of quarrel is trifling. But there's nothing to be done, so far in some cultures honor is above life.

There is a more recent and close example. In the film trilogy "Back to the Future" one of the main characters of Marty McFly is tortured by eerie complexes: he is afraid to appear in the eyes of others by a coward. But in each series, life clearly demonstrates Marty, which is not so terrible. And in the third part, the main character faces a dilemma: to live with the realization that people consider him a coward (the meaning of the word "dishonor" is recalled here by itself) or die a hero. And Marty seems to be making the most last choice for himself.

Is this a dishonest world, as people say about it?

It is now customary to scold modernity. Needless to say, the world does not shine: poverty, poverty are side by side with luxury, and the rich are not shy of their capitals and not all are involved in charity. The unchangeable unrighteousness of life makes information unbearable. In general, if you want to know, dishonor - what is it, then look around. Reality is buried in it. But is it all so bad? Injustice has always been. But at the same time, the same Internet offers unprecedented opportunities for people to communicate. Volunteering is now in vogue, people are helping animals. In other words, there is still hope for salvation.

Summing up the conversation, let's say: the lexical meaning of the word "dishonor" is reduced to the lack of honor, as, probably, the reader has already understood.