As discussed before, ethos is a vital part of argumentation. How much credibility the arguer possesses with his or her audience can drastically affect the perceived legitimacy of the argument. For example, a doctor has much more ethos than a teacher when discussing health issues, but the teacher's words bear much more weight in regards to the educational field. Ethos can determine whether or not an audience is even willing to listen to and consider the argument.
Ethos is the perceived credibility of the speaker. Too often, in arguments the arguer thinks he is qualified to discuss the subject when, in fact, he is not, as demonstrated by the humorously accurate meme. This completely discredits his ability to argue. It is key in argumentation that the speaker have credibility if he or she hopes to do any convincing. For example, a doctor arguing for new surgical tools is going to be much more effective and convincing than the cleaning staff. Ethos is vital in conversation and argumentation. It will determine if the debate is over even before it can begin.
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