| If there are no stock solutions to problems, | | | | |
| and one chooses to evaluate their | | | | based on finding the lesson or principle |
| | | | contained with an event (ie. experience |
| life through reflecting on experiences in | | | | |
| order to find the learning | | | | in our own life) would make some sense.So |
| | | | where does this leave us, when trying to |
| contained within, rather than adopting a | | | | maximise our learning, and seek |
| system of beliefs devised by others, then | | | | |
| | | | to work and live beyond, balanced, or |
| just how can one know that the way they are | | | | synthesised with regards to polarities?There |
| acting is 'ok' in the bigger | | | | is another layer to the etymology of the |
| | | | words to be explored, back to |
| picture.For several years now I have | | | | |
| struggled to accept concepts of ethics | | | | the Indo-European roots of the words. |
| | | | |
| and morality. The problem has arisen while | | | | Ethics is traced back to the Greek word |
| seeking to find ways beyond | | | | ethos, meaning "character". |
| | | | |
| duality, and think outside of polarities. It | | | | It is further traced back to the |
| has therefore become very difficult | | | | Indo-European root s(w)e-. |
| | | | |
| to just label things with moral tags of good | | | | There are some curious and interesting words |
| or evil, rightor wrong.For me, the concepts | | | | stemming from this, following on |
| of morals and ethics have become almost dirty | | | | |
| words. I | | | | from the definition: |
| | | | |
| suppose it is the way many people claim to | | | | Pronoun of the third person and reflexive |
| be morally or ethically superior, or | | | | (referring back to the subject of |
| | | | |
| have figured the "correct way" that we | | | | the sentence); further appearing in various |
| should all act and live.It has become fairly | | | | forms referring to the social group |
| normal for me to act more intuitively. If | | | | |
| something feels | | | | as an entity, "(we our-)selves." |
| | | | |
| right, and I'm fairly certain I'm coming | | | | It is outside the scope of this essay to |
| from a centred and balanced place | | | | explore that fully, however it is |
| | | | |
| within myself, then it is okay for me to act | | | | worth noting the concept of "the social |
| or be involved in an experience. | | | | group as an entity" and |
| | | | |
| Initially this was a struggle. It took time | | | | the esoteric concept of an egregore or group |
| to get a sense of feelings and | | | | mind.What catches my attention is some of the |
| | | | derivatives: self, gossip, suicide, |
| emotions, and then to accept it was okay to | | | | |
| act on a feeling without having | | | | secret, sober, sullen, ethic, and idiot. It |
| | | | is of particular note that self |
| reverted to analysing it against a | | | | |
| predefined set of standards (my own, my | | | | is of a similar root, as it is really an |
| | | | ethic or morality of Self conduct that |
| cultures, or those of another belief | | | | |
| system).On a deeply esoteric level, it can | | | | makes sense to me. As a group or society |
| said that we can never act wrong. | | | | thing, it still feels best to me if it |
| | | | |
| As we draw to ourselves situations and | | | | is a group of willing Selves, who choose to |
| people with whom we have experiences | | | | be together, free of obligation, |
| | | | |
| with, we are also drawn to others to fulfil | | | | conducting their affairs in a way that |
| their learning needs. Jung pointed | | | | recognises their own Self as sacred.The word |
| | | | moral is traced back to the Latin word |
| out that "the psychological rule says that | | | | moralis, from mos, |
| when an inner situation is | | | | |
| | | | or mor-, meaning "custom". This in itself is |
| not made conscious, it happens outside, as | | | | traced back |
| fate. That is to say, when the | | | | |
| | | | to the Indo-European root me-1meaning |
| individual remains undivided and does not | | | | "Expressing certain qualities of mind.". If |
| become conscious of his inner | | | | we consider |
| | | | |
| contradictions, the world must perforce act | | | | that the mind in recent years has become |
| out the conflict and be torn into | | | | exclusively considered the intellect, |
| | | | |
| opposite halves." | | | | then it is easy to see the parallels in the |
| | | | polarities existent within the |
| This makes thing somewhat difficult from a | | | | |
| moral standpoint. However, if we | | | | intellect, and the polarisation of morals, |
| | | | being considered rights and wrongs. |
| are acting consciously, we can play a far | | | | |
| more active and aware role in these | | | | Morals it seems to me are a construct of |
| | | | intellectualising life, rather than |
| situations, and we will learn from all our | | | | |
| interactions, the good and the bad, | | | | living it.Recently, when trying to explain |
| | | | to someone about my belief that life isn't |
| positive and negative.Someone acting from a | | | | |
| black magic perspective may be seeking out | | | | as black and white as many people think, and |
| power | | | | magic specifically is something |
| | | | |
| over others, however they are locked within | | | | beyond (or seeking to go beyond) polarities, |
| a polarity, where they will be | | | | and transcend the lower disruptive |
| | | | |
| acting out fate to the individuals who are | | | | and conflicting interplay we experience in |
| unconsciously drawn into this | | | | the physical, it occurred to me that |
| | | | |
| dance or interplay. All involved become | | | | there are two concepts I can and do work |
| actors, or perhaps if totally unaware of | | | | with. I feel comfortable with the word |
| | | | appropriatewhen considering if it is right or |
| the forces at play they are more aptly | | | | wrong to do something. I also feel |
| mannequins, controlled by unconscious | | | | |
| | | | comfortable if the action I take is done |
| energies and currents. So to judge a | | | | with respect for both myself and |
| situation as black/evil or white/goodmeans | | | | |
| also to be analysing it by polarities.So | | | | all other beings concerned.The etymology of |
| where does that leave us?The American | | | | appropriate traces back to the Latin |
| Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, | | | | appropriare |
| Fourth Edition | | | | |
| | | | meaning "to make one's own", from the Latin |
| gives three definitions for the word ethics | | | | ad- and proprius, |
| as: | | | | |
| | | | meaning "own". This gives a sense of |
| Ethics (noun) | | | | ownership to an action, |
| | | | |
| 1. a. A set of principles of right | | | | that it was undertaken purposefully and |
| conduct.b. A theory or a system of moral | | | | consciously, in the understanding that I |
| values: "An ethic of service is at war | | | | |
| | | | am acting in the way I feel is right for |
| with a craving for gain" (Gregg | | | | this situation.Respect traces back to the |
| Easterbrook).2. ethics (used with a sing. | | | | Latin word respectus, from re- |
| verb) The study of the general nature of | | | | |
| morals | | | | and specere meaning "to look at". This in |
| | | | turn stems |
| and of the specific moral choices to be made | | | | |
| by a person; moral philosophy.3. ethics (used | | | | from the Indo-European root spek- meaning |
| with a sing. or pl. verb) The rules or | | | | "to observe", |
| standards governing | | | | |
| | | | with it's oldest form said to mean |
| the conduct of a person or the members of a | | | | "becoming". If we are |
| profession: medical ethics. | | | | |
| | | | centred within our Self, we are indeed |
| So basically ethics relates to morals, | | | | conscious observers of both the inner and |
| rules, and standards governing "right | | | | |
| | | | outer world. Observing can be done without |
| conduct". So what about morals? The | | | | judgement. If we combine the |
| definitions given are as follows:Moral | | | | |
| (adjective) | | | | observation and becoming aspects, then we |
| | | | could say that acting with respect to |
| 1. Of or concerned with the judgment of the | | | | |
| goodness or badness of human | | | | others is an observation that each being is |
| | | | becoming (or growing, evolving) in |
| action and character: moral scrutiny; a | | | | |
| moral quandary.2. Teaching or exhibiting | | | | it's own unique way, and that we are mindful |
| goodness or correctness of character and | | | | of this.So here then is an intellectualised |
| behavior: | | | | outline of acting on a feeling - as I own |
| | | | |
| a moral lesson.3. Conforming to standards of | | | | my feelings (they are mine, as I am feeling |
| what is right or just in behavior; virtuous: | | | | them), I also take ownership of my |
| a | | | | |
| | | | actions, which are undertaken by my Self |
| moral life.4. Arising from conscience or the | | | | with respect to others. The outcomes of |
| sense of right and wrong: a moral | | | | |
| | | | these actions entail a learning, both for |
| obligation.5. Having psychological rather | | | | myself, and also for whomever I |
| than physical or tangible effects: a moral | | | | |
| | | | interact with - should each of us choose to |
| victory; moral support.6. Based on strong | | | | learn from the events and |
| likelihood or firm conviction, rather than on | | | | |
| the actual | | | | experiences. Outcomes may be positive or |
| | | | negative if viewed in a polarised |
| evidence: a moral certainty. | | | | |
| | | | manner, however if free of this judgements |
| Moral (noun)1. The lesson or principle | | | | then the actions have occurred in the |
| contained in or taught by a fable, a story, | | | | |
| or an | | | | present time (the Now) guided by feelings, |
| | | | and owned by me, the actor |
| event.2. A concisely expressed precept or | | | | |
| general truth; a maxim.3. morals Rules or | | | | (outer) and observer (inner), and whatever |
| habits of conduct, especially of sexual | | | | has happened has happened. Because I |
| conduct, | | | | |
| | | | have taken ownership of my actions, and |
| with reference to standards of right and | | | | acted respectfully, based on how I felt |
| wrong: a person of loose morals; a | | | | |
| | | | was appropriate at the time, I cannot act |
| decline in the public morals. | | | | 'wrong' (or for that matter 'right') - |
| | | | |
| To me, there are a lot of loaded words in | | | | I can just act, observe, learn, and grow.So |
| those definitions; Judgement, | | | | perhaps I do have an ethic that I live by at |
| | | | this stage in my life. It |
| moral lessons, conformity, obligation, | | | | |
| habits, and | | | | could be summed up as "Appropriate actions |
| | | | undertaken |
| the good old polarities right and wrong. As | | | | |
| a noun, a morality | | | | respectfully. |