Honor. Do you haz?
Honor is primarily a contractual agreement between two people who intend to mutually scratch the backs of one another for --- a long time ---
But it is never taken upon without SOME profit, or synergistic plunder..
I think that answers your question. If you think it's only taken for profit or synergistic plunder, then you don't know the definition of honor, at least not in this context. While honor can be bound in others, in general, in relation to the way that it is meant, it relates to, "honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions" It is self-defined, and self-enforced - a code. If your honor is rooted in someone else, it is only as good as the bond. There are some like that, but that kind of honor breaks easily. You also have external honor, i.e. honor bestowed by others, and internal honor. External honor can be rooted in self, but doesn't necessarily have to be. It's how people view you.
The honor of the Black Brothers is one of Brotherhood- the honor of the circle. Some have internal honor on top of that. We see the degradation of external honor at Craster's. But though Aliser Thorne was objectively wrong by the rules set forth, he didn't break his honor. He did what he thought was right for the Night's Watch as a whole. It involved him betraying his Lord Commander. Which meant that he held the Watch in higher esteem than his Lord Commander. Which is the height of honor and what whole epics have been written about. It's called Giri in the traditions of the samurai, and is a very personal and subjective thing, and is in direct opposition to Ninjo, or emotion and feeling.
In the Ser Aliser's case, it would have been easier to follow the rules set forth. However, his obligation to the Night's Watch made him take the more difficult, and more controversial path.
