While the Golden Rule does appear in secular philosophy, it is commonly associated with various religious teachings. Christianity is particularly strongly associated with the Golden Rule; the Bible expresses the ''do unto others'' sentiment twice. In Matthew 7:12, Jesus says, ''Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets'' (King James Version). In Luke 6:31, Jesus says, ''And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise'' (KJV). Because of these two quotes, the Golden Rule has become a prominent ethical maxim in Christianity. It is often quoted alongside other commandments like ''love thy neighbor'' or ''turn the other cheek,'' although all of these rules actually function slightly differently.
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Many other religions from around the world also have their own versions of the Golden Rule. Judaism has a version of the rule written out in Leviticus in the Tanakh: ''You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the Lord'' (Leviticus 19:18). In Islam, a hadith from the seventh century CE states, ''Do unto all men as you would wish to have done unto you; and reject for others what you would reject for yourself.'' In Hinduism, the Mahabharata says, ''This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you.'' A quote from the Buddhist Udanavarga states, ''Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.'' These are just a few examples; other religions and philosophical movements have also developed their own versions, including Daoism, some African religions, and some new faith movements like Wicca and Scientology.
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Not all uses of the Golden Rule are religious; secular philosophies have also examined the ethic of reciprocity and its potential applications in real life. The Golden Rule is sometimes considered a deontological principle, meaning that it is based on people's obligations to one another. Others consider it a utilitarian rule that is based on generating the greatest good. Generally speaking, the Golden Rule is not considered a sufficient basis for a full-scale system of ethics, mostly because it is too simple to be comprehensive. Nonetheless, it has been the subject of considerable discussion among philosophers and ethicists.
There are some philosophical criticisms of the Golden Rule that make it a less universally applicable idea than it might seem. First, some critics have pointed out that people are not all the same; they have different desires. Treating someone as one would like to be treated requires the assumption that one's own desires and preferences are universal. Someone who harbors a lot of guilt about their past actions might wish to be punished for those actions so that they can atone; it would not be permissible for them to apply that desire to others and treat them accordingly. Likewise, the Golden Rule fails to account for people's different situations in life. It is not always appropriate for adults to treat children the way they would like to be treated, as children need more support and care while receiving limited independence.
Despite these difficulties, the Golden Rule remains applicable across many interpersonal situations. It functions better as a rule of thumb or a form of common sense ethics rather than a universal moral principle. In some ways, the Golden Rule is very egalitarian in nature. It could be used to exhort people in power to treat those with less power with greater respect. A society that took the Golden Rule seriously might be less likely to have strong class stratification and inequality.
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The Golden Rule, or the ethic of reciprocity, is a common sense moral rule described in the philosophical field of ethics. The rule asks people to treat others as they would wish to be treated. This most common form of the rule is known as the positive version; the negative corollary tells people not to do to others what they would not want done to them. Human cultures around the world have developed variations on the Golden Rule independently; the earliest recorded versions of the maxim date back several thousand years. Several religions and several secular philosophies have all described the Golden Rule in varying degrees of detail.
Many people associate the Golden Rule with Christianity, as Jesus repeats the rule in both Matthew and Luke. Other religions like Islam, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism have also developed their own versions of the rule. Some philosophers have criticized the Golden Rule as being an insufficient moral precept. To apply the Golden Rule, one must assume that one's own desires are universal; if they are not, there is a risk of causing harm to others by going against their wishes in service of one's own.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called the Golden Rule?
The origins of the term ''Golden Rule'' are unclear. It is likely that the name arose because of the simplicity and wide applicability of the rule.
What is the Bible verse for the Golden Rule?
The Golden Rule appears twice in the Christian Bible. Jesus relays the rule in both Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31
What does the Golden Rule say?
The Golden Rule tells people to treat each other as they would like to be treated. It also asks people not to treat others in ways that they would not enjoy being treated.
Why is the Golden Rule flawed?
The Golden Rule assumes that everyone's desires are essentially the same. By following the rule, one must prioritize one's own desires over the potentially different desires of others.
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