Golden Rule

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The ethic of reciprocity or "The Golden Rule" is a fundamental moral principle which simply means "treat others as you would like to be treated." It is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights. Principal philosophers and religious figures have stated it in different ways.

The Principle of Understanding

Ethical teaching interprets the Golden Rule as mutual respect for one's neighbour (rather than as a deontological or consequentialist rule.) Most of us know that different people have different faiths or ideological beliefs, different preferences concerning sex or other matters, and may belong to a different cultural heritage. Many people have criticized the golden rule; George Bernard Shaw once said that "The golden rule is that there are no golden rules". Shaw also criticized the golden rule, "Do not do unto others as you would they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same." (Maxims for Revolutionists). "The golden rule is a good standard which is further improved by doing unto others, wherever possible, as they want to be done by." Karl Popper (The Open Society and Its Enemies, Vol. 2) Frank Herbert iterated a similar concept in his novel "Dune" with the statement that there is one commandment: "Thou shall not disfigure the soul."

A key element of the ethic of reciprocity is that a person attempting to live by this rule treats all people, not just members of his or her in-group, with consideration.

Religion

Buddhism

Putting oneself in the place of another,
one should not kill nor cause another to kill.
One who, while himself seeking happiness, oppresses with violence other
beings who also desire happiness, will not attain happiness hereafter.(Dhammapada 10. Violence)

In addition, the Dalai Lama has stated:

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.[1]

Christianity

Matthew 7:12
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

Luke 6: 27-36
Love Your Enemies
27 "But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks from you, and from one who takes away your things, don't ask for them back. 31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do [what is] good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do [what is] good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Confucianism

Confucius said in The Analects:

己所不欲、勿施於人。
Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.
Analects XV.24, tr. David Hinton

Global ethic

Main article: Global ethic

The "Declaration Toward a Global Ethic" from the Parliament of the World’s Religions (1893) proclaimed the Golden Rule (both in negative and positive form) as the common principle for many religions. The Declaration was signed by more than 200 leaders from 40+ different faith traditions and spiritual communities.

Hinduism

In addition to the law of karma, the Bhagavad Gita contains a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna with the statement:

That one I love who is incapable of ill will, And returns love for hatred.

Islam

Jeffrey Wattles holds that the ethic of reciprocity appears in the following statement attributed to Muhammad: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself."[2]

  • “Woe to those . . . who, when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure, but when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due”[3]
  • The Qur'an commends "those who show their affection to such as came to them for refuge and entertain no desire in their hearts for things given to the (latter), but give them preference over themselves"[4]
  • “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”[5]
  • "Seek for mankind that of which you are desirous for yourself, that you may be a believer; treat well as a neighbor the one who lives near you, that you may be a Muslim [one who submits to God]."[6]
  • “That which you want for yourself, seek for mankind.”[7]
  • "The most righteous of men is the one who is glad that men should have what is pleasing to himself, and who dislikes for them what is for him disagreeable." [8]

Judaism

Rabbi Hillel formulated the Golden Rule in order to illustrate the underlying principles of Jewish moral law:[9]

That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn.[10]

Rabbi Akiba ben Joseph emphasized the importance of Leviticus 19:18:

Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Dalai Lama. "Quotes from the Dalai Lama" (html). Retrieved 2007-10-14.
  2. ^ Jeffrey Wattles, The Golden Rule (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996) 4, 191-192, Questia, 24 July 2007
  3. ^
    • Qur’an (Surah 83, "The Unjust," vv. 1-4)
    • Wattles (191)
    • Rost, H.T.D. The Golden Rule: A Universal Ethic, 100. Oxford, 1986
  4. ^
    • Qur’an (Surah 59, "Exile," vv. 9)
    • Wattles (192)
    • Rost (100)
  5. ^
    • An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith 13 (p. 56)
    • Wattles (191)
    • Rost (100)
  6. ^
    • Sukhanan-i-Muhammad (Teheran, 1938) [English Title: Conversations of Muhammad]
    • Wattles (192)
    • Rost (100)
    • Donaldson Dwight M. 1963. Studies in Muslim Ethics, p.82. London: S.P.C.K
  7. ^
    • Sukhanan-i-Muhammad (Teheran, 1938)
    • Wattles (192)
    • Rost (100)
    • Donaldson (82)
  8. ^
    • Sukhanan-i-Muhammad (Teheran, 1938)
    • Wattles (192)
    • Rost (100)
    • Donaldson (82)
  9. ^ Gensler, Harry J. (1996). Formal Ethics. Routledge. p. 105. ISBN 0415130662.
  10. ^ Talmud, Shabbat 31a
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