ehos or commonplaces

ethos :

the common beliefs

Joe

i agree, and the book gives a wrong answer, commonplaces, i think.

Check the book again and see if it says "commonplace", that would be right.


I looked up ethos.

Main Entry: ethos
Pronunciation: 'E-"thäs
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek Ethos custom, character
: the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution.

I thought it meant common beliefs but this definition seems to say it means something stronger than that, that is the actual guiding beliefs. That seems to me to be a razor-thin difference, but that is the way words work to give us the precise meaning we want.

The author is saying that James was both a regular guy and someone who seemed to be above all the common stuff of life.

Sorry if I mis-lead you there for a moment.

Joe

it is commonplaces,two different books show so. do you mean it is an uncountable noun or there is some else wrong with commonplaces in comparing with commonplace.
as to ethos, there is an entry going as:
the complex of fundamental values that underlies, permeates, or actuates major patterns of thought and behavior in any particular culture, society, or institution *the value system, the ethos of a group?- Kurt lewin*.
i think this meaning fits well the space in that sentence.
i don't know. really puzzling
anyway thank you Joe.

I'd go with "commonplaces". I think the writer is trying to combine the overtones of "common places" where the rest of us life and "commonplace" the normal day-by-day.