Pathos
In Aristotle's Rhetoric, pathos is persuasion achieved by putting the audience into a particular emotional state.
Full definition of Pathos →:: COMPARE ::
PathosvsEthos
The short answer
Ethos is a state you induce in the audience about you; pathos is a state you induce in the audience in itself. Both are worked up by the speech, and neither is imported from outside it — which is what makes both of them technical means rather than advantages you happen to have.
Side by side
| Aspect | Pathos | Ethos |
|---|---|---|
| State induced in | The audience | The audience, about you |
| Produced by | The speech | The speech |
| Aristotle's treatment | 10 chapters | Brief |
| Common misreading | Manipulation | Credentials |
What each one means
Ethos
The characteristic spirit and values of a person, culture or institution. In Aristotle's Rhetoric it is narrower and sharper: persuasion achieved through the character the speaker projects in the course of speaking — not through their credentials.
Full definition of Ethos →