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.Learning Outcomes - Golden Rule
Students should be able to
- Understand the golden rule
- State words that suggest universal values
- Know the negative version of the golden rule and its connotations
- Why is the golden rule rationally appealing? (Bedeau page 10)
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What is the golden rule?
It is the claim that you should do unto others as you would want
other to do unto youWhat written words
indicate universal values?
A universal value is "Do good and avid
evil."
The Golden Rule indicates there are universal values across time.
"Every religion emphasizes human
improvement, love, respect for others, sharing other people's
suffering. On these lines every religion had more or less the same
viewpoint and the same goal." The Dalai Lama
The exception to this is the Church
of Satan: "4. Satan represents kindness to those
who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates! 5. Satan
represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek.!"
A.S. LaVey, founder of The Church of Satan, The Nine Satanic
Statements
What is the negative version of the golden rule
and what does it imply?
The negative version tells us not to treat others as we would not
have them treat us. This is one reason why there
are rules prohibiting the experimentation of unwilling
subjects. This is one reason the experimentation
Why is the golden rule rationally appealing?
Because it indicates that "none of us is a special
case. the same moral standards apply to all of us" (Bedeau 10)
Examples of
statements reflecting the "Golden Rule" are as follows:
| Buddhism |
Hurt
not others in ways that you yourself would find
hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18 |
| Christianity |
"Therefore
all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do
ye even so to them." Matthew 7:12 |
| Confucianism |
"Do not do to others what
you do not want them to do to you" Analects 15:23 |
| Hinduism |
"This is the sum of duty:
do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to
you." Mahabharata 5:1517 |
| Islam |
"None of you [truly]
believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for
himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's
Forty Hadiths." |
| Judaism |
"What is hateful to you,
do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is
commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a |
| Muslim |
No one of you is a believer until
he desires for his brother that which he desires for
himself." -Hadith |
| Wiccan Faith |
"An it harm none, do what
thou wilt." -Wiccan Rede |
| Plato: |
"May I do to others as I
would that they should do unto me." |
| Socrates |
"Do not do to others
that which would anger you if others did it to you." |
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Harry Gensler in his text, Ethics, comments on the golden rule.
"Properly interpreted, the golden rule doesn't say what specific act to do.
Instead, it forbids inconsistent action-desire combinations. Thus the golden
rule doesn't compete with principles like 'It's wrong to steal' or 'One
ought to do whatever maximizes enjoyment.' The golden rule operates at a
different level.
The golden rule captures the spirit behind morality. It
helps us to see the point behind moral rules. It engages our reasoning,
instead of imposing an answer. It counteracts self-centeredness. And it
correctly applies ideals like fairness and concern. So the golden rules
makes a good one-sentence summary of what morality is about."
He says thoughtful nurses would are attracted to the rule:
A thoughtful nurse would say, "I try to treat my patients the same
way that I'd like to be treated." Gensler indicates it is in one's
self-interest to follow the golden rule for the following four reasons:
- Following the golden rule promotes cooperation - which benefits
everyone (including myself). Conversely selfishness promotes conflict
which ultimately hurts everyone
- Generally people treat us as we treat them. So it is in our
self-interest to treat others well.
- Violating the golden rule brings penalties, including social
disapproval and, in turn, loss of self-respect.
- Following the golden rule makes us feel good about ourselves and
brings us the respect of others. (From Gensler's
Ethics, Chapter 8, Section 5, Why Follow the Golden Rule?"
Additional examples of the "Golden Rule" can be found at
Golden Rule
Poster - lovely
The Golden Rule in
World Religions from Teaching Values Site
Religious
Tolerance Site |
