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A review by katie_king
The Honor Code: How Moral Revolutions Happen by Kwame Anthony Appiah
2.0
A philosophical examination of the concept of honor and its role in social change. The examples chosen are widely spaced in time and locations: duelling amongst the British aristocracy, foot-binding in Manchu-ruled China, the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and honor killing in Pakistan. Appiah's notion is that a shift in what is considered honorable behavior can start what he calls a "moral revolution" when a practice that was once considered necessary to uphold honor is transformed in public perception to be shameful, barbaric or dishonorable.
The stories are well researched, well-written and have historical interest; however, in my opinion, the premise is incorrect. Duelling, foot-binding, the slave trade and present-day so-called honor killings have less in common than Appiah seeks to prove.
Duelling was a practice to uphold a gentleman's honor, yes, but once it was adopted by persons of lower rank, and put out to public ridicule, it ceased. Foot-binding and honor killings are just two of the many means that men use to subjugate and control women. "Honor" has always been the excuse to blame the victim.
Slavery was never a matter of honor; it was a business with an economic motive for every person and group involved. Western came to see it as immoral and unethical because of the harm done to human beings. It has never been honorable to sell quack medicines or tainted food, either - and no purveyor claimed to do that to preserve their personal honor.
The stories are well researched, well-written and have historical interest; however, in my opinion, the premise is incorrect. Duelling, foot-binding, the slave trade and present-day so-called honor killings have less in common than Appiah seeks to prove.
Duelling was a practice to uphold a gentleman's honor, yes, but once it was adopted by persons of lower rank, and put out to public ridicule, it ceased. Foot-binding and honor killings are just two of the many means that men use to subjugate and control women. "Honor" has always been the excuse to blame the victim.
Slavery was never a matter of honor; it was a business with an economic motive for every person and group involved. Western came to see it as immoral and unethical because of the harm done to human beings. It has never been honorable to sell quack medicines or tainted food, either - and no purveyor claimed to do that to preserve their personal honor.