| "Duty" is that set of obligations for which one has signed up.
The signing-up can be pretty explicit (as when we've put our name
to some contract) or implicit (as, for instance, when we consider
that certain behavior is part of our definition of being an adult
or a good citizen...or, presumably, a proper thief or successful
despot.
"Honor" is self-respect and the respect of honorable others.
They're motivating when they're valued by the motivatee and
manipulative otherwise. E.g., if you tell me (or I you) that something
ought to be done "because it's your DUTY", that's manipulative at
least to the extent that it is self-serving rather than disinterested.
On the other hand, if I tell myself that I ought to do something
"because it's my DUTY", that probably can't be considered manipulative
even though it might well be self-serving in a mendacious way.
=maggie
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This is right off the top of my head. My first impressions.
Duty, as in:
"duty calls" -- An obligation. Or perhaps a full bladder.
"only did her duty" -- What was expected of her (whether this expectation was
internally or externally generated). Exonerates.
"dutiful wife/husband" -- "legal" terminology? Hmm. Devoted.
"beyond the call of duty" -- Beyond expectations.
Honor, as in:
"death before dishonor" -- The violation of a strongly held principle.
"honorable mention" -- "Good try!" Shows promise, talent, technical skill.
"honorable discharge" -- A "passing grade". Performed satisfactorily, without
serious infraction of the rules.
"honorable intentions" -- Good (perhaps righteous) intentions.
I agree with Margaret's answer (.1) to the motivating/manipulative question.
CQ
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| In college, I did an ethics class term paper on the conflict of
"duty" versus "truth".
My thoughts then, and now, are that duty has to do with the social
contracts we make with other people and our society in general.
For example, I have a duty to obey the laws of my government, since
I have chosen to benefit from my government (it's kind of hard to
opt out, but the concept remains the same).
The only time I can see where "duty" has to be subordinated is where
"honor" comes in. My definition -- strongly held convictions or
principles -- such as not taking undue advantage of the weak, or
telling the truth in circumstances where it might be to my advantage
to lie.
My opinion is that a lot of wrongheaded decisions are made on the
basis of "my duty" by people who have never seriously considered
that there might be a *higher* concept.
Gloria
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