18) To see what is right and not do it is to want of courage.
This is one of the statements that has stuck with me ever since I’ve read it over two decades ago. Frankly, my interpretation from then to now hasn’t changed much either. It’s, once again, attributed to Confucius and by consequence carries the weight of these virtue ethics.
Just to be clear, virtue ethics are characteristic focused ethics; instead of having absolutes delineated such as “this is right and this is wrong”, virtue ethics are about characteristics such as honesty, integrity, responsibility, etc. The practice doesn’t say, “lying is bad”; it just teaches, “be honest”…
That is a rather simple one: we all know that it is best to be honest, but what about white lies? In the paradigm of absolute preclusion (Lying is bad), then even these socially acceptable untruths – however innocuous they may seem – are absolutely wrong and should never be uttered. Although this may be an ideal for some, it is generally understood that there are times when ultimate honesty is not the best solution – IE: Is it wrong to lie to save a life? The issue here is a convolution between two ethical issues and a valuation of which is ultimately better than the other.
Intuitively, there is no debate and we can easily create a grey area – but philosophically, how can we make this distinction?
The reason I bring this stuff up is that the only issue with this entry into the KFEB is what is “Right”? Every culture has their own version of what this is, but the interesting commonality between every culture is that they are exactly that – Cultures.
Every culture has a series of norms, mores, virtues and principles they hold in the highest regard. If we were to apply this idea of a cultural sense of “right”, we can find a lead mark, which can guide us in applying this principle.
Admittedly, this same recognition of a culturally relative moral stance does create further problems, like if a culture allows for corporal punishment in circumstances like infidelity or sexual promiscuity.
The underlying point of this statement – Courage is doing what is right.
I tie this particular statement to a couple of other sentiments, one specifically by Edmond Burke: “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Another concept is based on the Golden Rules (Buddhist and Christian*) – What if I was in the position where I were in a difficult situation, would I want someone to help? Can I expect someone to help me if I know that I wouldn’t help someone else?
In that, if I know that someone is in need and I have the power to do something to help, if I didn’t do the right thing then I can only say that I was wanting of courage.
The provision here is layered – I have to have the power to do something to help… Which, at the lowest level is simply making a call for help and everyone has this power in some form or another. At the riskier level, stepping in to stop someone being bullied or stepping up for someone in need of first aid assistance.
But to know that someone is in need of assistance or to know something is going on that is wrong and to not do anything is to want of courage.
Why do Martial Artists train? Usually people start training in some form of Martial Art for self-defense and personal betterment, but this is only the starting phase. Through training the body and mind Martial Artists begin learning a variety of lessons, and the confidence to rationally deal with a myriad of situations… Would it not be selfish to focus only on one’s self, and is it not better to put these to work for others?
*Buddhist: Do not do unto others that you would not have them do unto you.
Christian: Do unto others what you have them do unto you.
