The Protector Ethic Quotes

“Balancing the ethical-tactical continuum is the best way to increase our ability because it’s when we can (or cannot) ethically protect everyone and resolve conflict that tactics become vividly clear. The tactical itself, on its own, is devoid of meaning without orientation—a sword-cutting technique is simply that, a procedure to cut with a sword. The technique gains priority and consequence only when used in fulfilling our protector ethic, which is always moral-physical. A Moral-Physical Philosophy Some believe the ethical and tactical are mutually exclusive, even incompatible. The tactical is about survival, they’ll say—“Kill or be killed.” The ethical is for Sunday school or philosophers, who rarely, if ever, get punched in the face. But this is hardly true—I get punched all the time.”
― James V. Morganelli, The Protector Ethic: Morality, Virtue, and Ethics in the Martial Way

“If we can fulfill the protector ethic—protecting ourselves, those around us, and even our enemy, if at all possible—we will have realized the essence, the root, the core of every core value that has ever shaped the martial way. In fact, we cannot formulate any martial value, including self-confidence, honor, integrity, loyalty, humility, discipline, or inner peace, without respect for the value of life that makes any of them a worthy conception to begin with.”
― James V. Morganelli, The Protector Ethic: Morality, Virtue, and Ethics in the Martial Way

“It’s no mistake that within the annals of martial history, the highest order of mastery has always been to undo the enemy while sparing his life, if at all possible. And within the philosophic realm, the value of life is the source of justification for our visceral instincts of obligation to care for ourselves and others.”
― James V. Morganelli, The Protector Ethic: Morality, Virtue, and Ethics in the Martial Way

“If we’re willing to fight, or protect others from harm, or hurt, maim, or kill those who might do the harming, we had better be able to explain not only the good reasons, but the just reasons we fought for and defended others. We had better be able to clarify why.”
― James V. Morganelli, The Protector Ethic: Morality, Virtue, and Ethics in the Martial Way