Honor. A brief look at the idea.

This question was posed on another forum I belong to, and frankly I thought it deserved more then a brief and quick reply. The Gorean novels are simple stories really, and on the surface are nothing but a geek boy’s sexual fantasy....Norman however is not some geeky kid living out his BDSM fantasies. His stories are full of Philosophy, History, possibility and delve into sexual relationships which during the mid 60‘s must have seemed controversial. So to pose a serious question means taking in all the books, thinking about the situations and how a Gorean would react if they were more then just a fictional character.

The question was this: What does honor and integrity mean, to you personally, can you give some examples that reflect your beliefs?

Do you feel your slave or free companion can have honor or integrity?

While the question was posed in such a way to inquire about the individuals integrity and honor, I thought about it in more of a cultural and sociological way. If Gor actually existed how would a Gorean refect the ideas of honor and integrity? How would these things be reflected in his caste codes?

Remember that on Gor, there are "No mere points of honor."

Honor is often thought of something internal, a way of behaving; of always doing the moral thing or in the correct social manner. Honor is based upon your trustworthiness, honesty, respect and other means of behavior.

Although in our modern world honor may be seen as relative, in the traditional world - and in the world of Gor - honor was a very real and guiding principle. A moral compass if you will. You acted a certain way because that was expected of you and your family. Stealing something for example, not only would dishonor the thief but their entire family. In medieval Europe, the concept of honor also included your property. To "pledge your honor" meant that you were willing to give up land or wealth because you believed in your convictions. Duels were seen as protecting one's honor, or of restoring it.



Honor is found throughout Gor in this more traditional sense. Tarl Cabot acts in such a way that follows his convictions, any contradictions of his behavior then are not really contradictions but more reactions to the situation depending on the local culture and the situation. Overall his behavior is consistent with his own internal moral code and his caste codes. To a Gorean, honor is not some philosophical question but a physical and important part of their lives.

To have integrity is to be consistent in your actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcomes. It is possible to have integrity but no honor. It is not possible to be honorable but have no integrity. Your actions bring you, your family, home stone and caste honor. Your simple expected to live and work in a certain way....so you do. While the individual may differ somewhat in their approach, in Gorean culture at least your integrity is determined by the caste codes and individual honor.

The idea of a slave or a Gorean woman not have honor or integrity would have simply been unfathomable for a Gorean. In the Gorean society a woman, free or slave, is expected to act a certain way. The culture as a whole has prepared her for the possibility of a collar around her slim and pretty neck, now that it is there....she has two choices. Accept her fate - in a honorable way - or die. If she choose to live then her Honor would not allow her to disappoint her Master - and Gorean slaver’s tend to be very firm in their training. A kajira becomes consistent in her actions because she has no choice. However now she brings honor to her Master by her manners, her behavior. To disobey or try to escape would not only result in serious punishment for her, but would bring dishonor to him.

It is a closed loop system. The culture, society and the individual all obey the same rules of conduct. These systems feed into each other until the individual does not even realize that the cultural values are part of their internal sense of self.