What is Morality?
Ken Harding

There may be a time when circumstances will require that you use your martial art skills, even the use of deadly force. This situation will force you to consider moral choices. Since it is unlikely that you will be able to sit down and think about these things in such a situation, nor is it likely that at that time you will possess a rational and calm state of mind, it is necessary that you consider them beforehand, in moments of mental composure.

Is an act immoral simply because there is a law against it? Most people would consider murder immoral, and there are laws against it, of course. But does the presence of laws impose the morality, or does it merely enforce penalties for those members of society who fail to recognize the immorality of murder? Certainly there exist many laws which have nothing to do with morality. And there are immoral acts which are not illegal. What do you think?

Is an act immoral because it goes against the beliefs of a particular doctrine or creed? So much of what we consider immoral has been perpetrated by people of every belief that it is inconsistent and dishonest to assert that morality is the exclusive possession of a certain few. Most creeds of moral behavior are tailored to meet the needs and biases of the sect that invented them.

In truth, laws against murder have been instituted ever since the dawn of civilization. The reason that there are prohibitions against murder is that most humans object to being murdered. Similarly, there are laws against stealing because most people object to having their hard-earned property stolen from them. The sovereignty of the individual, in terms of physical safety, intellectual freedom, ownership of property, and personal rights, is the basis for laws and government.

After deep consideration on the subject, I feel that morality is derived from two things- consequences and compassion. What are the consequences of my actions, and do they harm others? Have I developed compassion for others, so that I am not insensitive to pain felt by other people? Consequence-based morality seems to me to be the most consistent and honest.

Why be moral? I cannot be any other way-- I have compassion, the ability to see through another’s eyes. For those who have no compassion, we have laws, and we have budo.