Ethics Action

This article is part of an Ethical theory.

The best desire or intent in the world is of little value if the choice of actions and their implementaion is poorly done, and the opposite effect occurs. Thus, Competancy of action is essential to creating the intended or desired effect. This ethical virtue covered both the right choice of action, and the right implementation of that action. It is often summarised as the Skillful Means doctrine.

Skillful Means

Each person is best at their own set of skills, and should have a solid understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, while developing those skills which are most likely to provide a range of options allowing good ethical choices of action. Those who consistently over- or under-estimate their ability, or concentrate their choice of actions in a different area from their natural talents are doing a moral disservice to themselves and those around them. Developing Skillful Means to implement one's goals is not just a practical skill, but a moral imperative.

The Moral Weight of Competancy

It is possible to do great harm through inadequate planning or the selection of a plan that cannot be carried out. An incompetant thief is only slightly less evil, but an incompetant hero is barely good at all. Physical Competancy is thus a moral virtue of proportion, as it provides the range of options for the application of Prudence. While Prudence is the virtue is determining a course of action, physical skill in implementing a plan must be factored into the decision. Evil intent weighs more heavily when competantly performed, but good intent counts for little without an means of performance.

Reliability

Competancy includes reliability of results, predictability, removal of risk of unexpected events, and in general the reduction of the unforeseen, and tends to mitigate against the chance factors which cause good intentions to go awry.

Randomness and Chaos

A natural tendancy to cause chaos, confusion, or unpredictable results can be useful in certain specific situations. However in general the chance factors added by this approach mean that the planned intent is likely to go awry. The only times when a deliberate increase of chaos and unpredictability is morally acceptable are:

• as a means of causing confusion in the enemy through a surface appearance of chaos
• when the predictable path is going to fail. This usually ups the stakes, making failure worse, but giving a slim chance of success.

How Competant is Competant

Someone is competant if they only do that which they can do well. They must know their limitations, but ride those limitations hard, and strive to push back the bounds of possibility without climbing over the fence of reason and waving back to the crowds behind the guard rails.

You got to know when to hold 'em, 
Know when to fold 'em, 
Know when to walk away, 
And know when to run.