Ethos and the listener

I think the reputation and the argument of a speaker are both important things to consider as a listener. However when someone is advancing an argument there are more things to consider than just what that person has to say and what their reputation is. I think it’s up to the listener to listen and try and understand what’s being said, consider the speaker’s credibility and reputation, but also try for him or herself to learn more about the argument from other sources. Many people who hear several opinions and arguments every day spend some time finding out more information any way they can. That task has become easier to do via the Internet and television and has become a habit for anyone who has access to these sources.

Regardless of what someone’s reputation is, all listeners should be critical of what that person is saying to some degree and verify the facts themselves. If someone’s argument is weak to begin with (i.e. filled with logical fallacies) it shouldn’t matter what his or her reputation is, it’s still a poor argument. Still the listeners should research it themselves to check if their own opinions are correct. There are many combinations of the quality of the reputation and of the argument a person can have but what listeners do with it after hearing it is crucial.