Ethics and Responsibility. Philosophers are concerned with the problem of knowing truth, rhetoricians with the problem of acting on belief rather than truth with belief itself understood as a choice, a decision, an act. Uncertainty, rather than sanctioning a disregard for ethics, makes one more acutely aware of the ethical nature of human being. For rhetoricians every moment involves ethical choice about what one is to believe or how one is to act. And every choice has consequences for which one must bear responsibility .
Ethics become relevant to all human endeavor.
Such a position does not lead to blind tolerance of any belief and conduct based on it. Every belief must take its place in the larger argument over the best course to be followed in the conduct of human affairs, a course that may vary with circumstance, time, and place. Belief and conduct ideally should be constrained by persuasion, unless they infringe on the freedom of others to believe and act as they may choose. Determining the conduct of human affairs. Censorship laws, secrecy and security laws, slander and libel laws, laws governing political and commercial speech, laws governing ownership of and access to communication media, etc.