April 30, 2010
Justice and Fairness
Now that I’ve gotten past my GMAT, I’ve got a little more free time on my hands, so I wanted to come back to some online musing on martial ethics. We’ll see if I can manage enough discipline to do it regularly.
One of the most common concepts I’ve seen in martial ethics is justice. It makes sense to me. Those who claim to righteous defenders of the weak and downtrodden would be very concerned about justice and fairness.
What is justice? I seems simple on the surface. Being “just” is being “fair” or equitable. Having partially listened to Plato’s Republic (ahem, audible.com), it seems to me justice is a complex topic. I think it depends a lot on your perspective. Some think that government provided health care is just, and others do not.
Is it fair that I have a well paying job, while other people are homeless? One could argue that I worked hard in school and my career to get to where I’m at. Or one could argue that because I have some level of success, I owe to the less fortunate to give some to them. A capitalist perspective would say that the market has decided that my experience and work output is valued at my salary and benefits, and it is therefore fair. A communist might say that everyone’s funds should be distributed as needed by the government to maintain fairness. The former values individual effort unequally, while the latter implies that everyone’s work is equal.
If you don’t think about these questions, and if you don’t doubt your conclusions, you probably should. In my mind, it is a great act of hubris to be certain you are right.
I already implied how justice fits into a martial ethics framework. Obviously, thinking about fairness temper’s the martial artist’s application of technique to a situation. It is not always wise, safe, or just to intervene, much less in a violent way. Even the best intentions can lead to the worst outcomes. Not to mention the very real danger of getting sued. At the same time, one with the ability to have a positive effect on the world would like to do something. I believe if you have the ability, you have the responsibility.
What is a martial artist to do? I find that a quote from the movie “Kung Fu” provides good guidance:
“Avoid rather than check.
Check rather than hurt.
Hurt rather than maim.
Maim rather than kill.
For all life is precious, nor can it ever be replaced.”
Peace,
Brad
P.S. To plug Audible once more, I hear that Michael J. Sandel’s book, Justice, is a good examination of the topic of justice. It’s on my wish list.
