Ethics

Ethics in the west refers to moral principles of a person or group of people. It is a moral correctness that specifies the type of conduct of an individual or a group of individuals. A branch of philosophy, a moral philosophy. It involves the systematization, defense, and the recommending of concepts of right and wrong conduct, i.e. a form of yin-n-yang, with yin as right and yang as wrong. 

The Greek's used their term, ethos, meaning character. In philosophy we study ethics as a moral behavior, or how a person should act at all times whether being observed by others or simply how they behave in a solitary way. 

One must develop a practical means of finding a moral course of action; determine, understand and live with moral outcomes as they can be achieved in specific scenarios; and how to compare ethics as in the study of other person's beliefs about morality. It helps humans answer the question on actions as to good and evil, right and wrong, vice and virtue, and justice and crime.

How does this fall into the realms of martial arts. It can best be discussed in most circles through the Asian system of Bushido and that also includes the discussion of the Okinawan term derived from the work bushido, i.e. bushi, meaning a martial gentlemen. 

A martial arts code of ethics in hardly discussed in reality except to pay lip service and provide sound bites that will impress but carry little weight when compared to the actual actions of martial artists. This is not to say that there are no ethics within the martial arts but rather refers to the various levels according to the dictates of the cultural beliefs of the group and individuals, both leaders and adherents. 

Ethics or Rinri are necessary in any human endeavor if for no other reason than to provide a balance within the system along with a balance for the group to provide a morally driven code of conduct. Without right or wrong, etc. as to conduct and repercussions when said conduct is violated then we lose the humanity of the system.