What philosophies do Game of Thrones’ characters follow?

Ned & Robb Stark’s Philosophy

If Tywin and even Daenerys practice moral relativism, then Ned Stark and the ideals he passes to his heir Robb are based on moral absolutism. You must maintain honor and honesty in all circumstances, even those in which negative consequences may arise. You must do what is “absolutely right”.

Virtue, as described by Aristotle throughout his Nicomachean Ethics, is about voluntary and habitual actions and self-training, both intellectually and morally. You knowingly and willingly act with your highest character, for the sake of it and not for reward, and this is key–you do it even in spite of consequences.

Ned doesn’t believe in slaughtering Rhaegar’s children; he doesn’t want Daenerys assassinated; he wants to find the truth to Jon Arryn’s murder and seek justice; he serves as Robert’s hand only out of duty; and he sticks to a promise, one which continues to haunt him, which stems from the final dying wish of his sister Lyanna (that’s a story for another day).

In all of the above circumstances, Ned knowingly and willingly pursues courses of action he believes are absolutely right, despite the fact that they all lead him to harm or bring him further away from what would truly be his own best self interests.

Aristotle also describes virtue as lying between two polar opposites, as the mean between excess and deficiency. He provides the example of someone running away in fear as displaying cowardice, and someone fearing nothing laying at the other equally undesirable extreme.

Ned, of course, instructs Bran on this specific matter. He tells his son that the only time a man can be brave is while he is afraid. You must find the mean between excess and deficiency.

Ned and Robb don’t want to instill fear as leaders, they want to inspire loyalty and earn respect. Ned instructs Robb to, “Know the men who follow you and let them know you. Don’t ask your men to die for a stranger.” Robb later explains to his mother that his true power doesn’t lay in merely commanding those under him, but maintaining their loyalty, because his lords “can unmake me just as easy” as they made him to begin with.

The Starks uphold their honor and their duty, and strive to understand the full consequences of their actions. Ned believes that, “The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man’s life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.”

Of course, all of this honor doesn’t serve them very well in the end. Their virtue is taken advantage of by those who possess a perhaps less admirable, but more effective, Machiavellian approach. Petyr Baelish knew it would be such, of course, warning Ned that, “You wear your honor like a suit of armor, Stark. You think it keeps you safe, but all it does is weigh you down and make it hard for you to move.”

Varys underscores the same point, telling Ned that, “You are an honest and honorable man, Lord Eddard. Ofttimes I forget that. I have met so few of them in my life… When I see what honesty and honor have won you, I understand why.”

In Plato’s The Apology, writing on the trial of Socrates, a large portion of Socrates’ defense is focused on telling the crowd of the virtues he believes in and that he hopes others to share. Socrates says, “A man who is good for anything ought not to calculate the chance of living or dying,” but rather should consider if what he is doing is, “Right or wrong.” He says that he will, “Never fear or avoid a possible good.” Such a defense got Socrates killed.

For Ned, with his own life on the line, he only hesitatingly, reluctantly, opts to try to save his own life for the sake of his family, betraying his honor in the process. Joffrey beheads him anyway.

The strong, although perhaps not the morally so, survive, be it in Essos or Westeros.

Ethos, Logos & Pathos

Aristotle’s three modes of persuasion — ethos, logos and pathos — provide another lens with which to look at the differing approaches that characters such as Tywin, Dany, and Ned and Robb practice.

Ethos = Ethics & Character = Ned & Robb

Ethos can be described as the ethics or character of the person who’s doing the persuading. People are more likely to believe someone whom they view as having strong character. The speaker is viewed as trustworthy, with an important and worthwhile opinion. What he or she says automatically holds weight.

How frequently is the honor and character of Ned Stark mentioned? Just about every character who comes into contact with him directly, or discusses him with another, mentions Ned’s reputation as that of being an honorable person, whether he’s hailed or derided for it. Stannis says of Ned that, “Only a fool would doubt his honor or his honesty,” while as mentioned above, both Varys and Littlefinger forecast what that honor will provide for him.

It’s a trait which Robb also diligently strives for in his short-lived tenure as a leader. Of course, Robb understood that even as he won every battle, he was losing the war. His best intentions would get the better of him, from his love interests, to his desire for justice. Like his father, he pursues virtuous actions despite their negative consequences, making Aristotle proud but providing for a rather lonely Stark family gathering around the holiday season.

Logos = Logic & Reasoning = Tywin

Logos is based on logical arguments and reasoning. While for Aristotle this often meant quite formal arguments of reason, in real world applications, logos simply refers to persuading someone with a series of logical points which outline the perceived truth of the speaker.

Why should you join forces with Tywin? Not because of his honor. Because the Lannisters always pay their debts, for better or worse as the case may be depending upon your own actions. Because the Lannisters plan on being the winning side. Because there is land and lordships and titles for those who assist, and beheadings and destruction for those who resist. In this way, it’s logical to align yourself with the Lannisters when Tywin provides you with the option.

Tywin makes his own decisions much in the same way. House Lannister remained neutral in Robert’s Rebellion until the outcome had all but been decided, with Robert’s victory at the Battle of the Trident. At that point, it was only logical to be on the winning side, and obtain the favor of those who were on it as well–in this case, doing so with infamous brutality, demonstrating his loyalty to Robert with the murder of Rhaegar’s children.

Pathos = Emotional Appeal = Daenerys

Pathos is a form of persuasion based on the emotions of the audience. Whether they are fearful, hopeful, angry, or anything else, a strong emotion often leads to one action over another, even in the face of differing logical arguments.

This is entirely how Daenerys wins over supporters, whether the first members of her tiny khalasar who watched in awe as she became the Unburnt and the Mother of Dragons, the freed slaves who love her for freeing them and are devoted to her cause, or even the lusty sellswords who vie for her affection and love.

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This has been a brief foray into how philosophy applies to Game of Thrones and its key characters and stories. There are other philosophers or styles which would also work, so feel free to continue the discussion with your own thoughts, arguments or comparisons in the comments below!