What is ethics?

Here's a provision of examination questions set by Hitotsubashi Univ. in 2006.

It is the sum total of those things that an individual imposes on himself or denies himself, not primarily to further his own welfare or happiness - that would be nothing more than egotism  - but in consideration of the interests or the rights of others, in order to stay true to a certain conception of humanity and of himself.

It is the sum of my duties, in other words of the imperatives which I believe to be legitimate - even if from time to time, as everyone does, I break them.

It is the law which I impose - which I should impose - upon myself; indepedently of the judgement of others and of any expectation of reward or sanction.

"What should I do?" and not: "What should others do?" This is what distinguishes ethics from moralizing.

Life is ....

I used to say that the life is not so easy. And I realize that it is getting easier instead  as I became Koreisha, a young-old person officially classified so by the government. I often question the common practice here in the society, where people are so keen about the date of birth and the profession. It is usually a must practice to indiate both when people send a contribution to a newspaper, for example. I wonder where such a practice has come from. The vertically-structured society of this country may have something to do with it. People are so scared  or shy of making any mistake about selecting suitable honorifics or deferentials for some one to talk to. One good example is that a group of newly-met Japanese takes some time before they start their conversation. They have to have a traditional ceremony of exchanging each individual card indicating their company names and their titles there. Now they can speak, but their next task is to find out or guess ages of others in the group. For Koreisha generation such a traditional ceremoney has no meaning. I　carry no card any more with me. I've forgotten my birth date. I am now a house husband, motorcyclist, singer in a male choir, and finally cello player. 

四国ツーリング

徳島在住のライダーと一緒に四国ツーリングに行って来ました。

ルートは大阪ー淡路ー徳島ー阿南ー徳島中街道ー高知ー祖谷渓ー高松道ー淡路ー大阪。

奥物部のライダーズインでのバーベキューはとてもいい思い出となりました。

それにしても行きの明石大橋の上は海風が強かった。そこで帰りはたこフェリーに逃げてしまった。風対応が今後の課題ですね。

次回ツーリングは出雲大社の予定ですが、変更もありか。