Ethos Pathos And Logos

Look around you. Everywhere you turn, we as a people are immersing ourselves in fiction, whether it is on a phone, tablet, or book. Many people see this and scoff; they disregard reading fiction and see it as a waste of time, but they’re missing the point. Because of individual learning styles, fiction’s contribution to teaching empathy, and the ability to shape our personalities, fiction reading is one of the most important parts of our lives. Part of the reason fictional stories are so important is because of how we naturally learn. We are taught in school the three means of persuasion—logos, ethos, and pathos; nonfictional books use two of these devices—ethos and logos. These appeal to our more “left brain” means of understanding by looking to one more knowledgeable in the subject along with logic. In this way, facts are forced down our throats with little hope that we may remember them. Fiction, however, appeals to pathos, to our emotions. It breaks down our walls leaving us more pliable and receptive to the information given. We remember things more easily if we are able to recall a character we have grown attached to, teaching by example rather than facts read off to us by a faceless, monotonous voice.

While we aren’t given a straightforward list of things to know, from the characters in these stories, we may learn empathy. By watching a show or movie, the details are right in front of our eyes, but with reading, the scene must be imagined. You must put yourself in another’s shoes, decide how you would handle a conflict with the given choices. In doing this, you come to realize that everyone is a “me”. That the people surrounding you have to make tough decisions too, and thus making you more empathetic to these