Golden Rule | moral code, universal law, reciprocity (2024)

ethical precept

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Golden Rule, precept in the Gospel of Matthew (7:12): “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. . . .” This rule of conduct is a summary of the Christian’s duty to his neighbour and states a fundamental ethical principle. In its negative form, “Do not do to others what you would not like done to yourselves,” it occurs in the 2nd-century documents Didachē and the Apology of Aristides and may well have formed part of an early catechism. It recalls the command to “love the stranger (sojourner)” as found in Deuteronomy. It is not, however, peculiar to Christianity. Its negative form is to be found in Tob. 4:15, in the writings of the two great Jewish scholars Hillel (1st century bc) and Philo of Alexandria (1st centuries bc and ad), and in the Analects of Confucius (6th and 5th centuries bc). It also appears in one form or another in the writings of Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, and Seneca.

Golden Rule | moral code, universal law, reciprocity (2024)

FAQs

Golden Rule | moral code, universal law, reciprocity? ›

The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as one would want to be treated by them. It is sometimes called an ethics of reciprocity, meaning that you should reciprocate to others how you would like them to treat you (not necessarily how they actually treat you).

What does the principle of reciprocity golden rule state? ›

The Golden Rule is often written as, ''treat others how you want to be treated'' or, ''do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Is the Golden Rule widely accepted? ›

The Golden Rule is by far the most generally acknowledged summary statement of human morality. Harry J. Gensler is right to call it “a global standard—endorsed by nearly every religion and culture.”1 Here are various expressions of the rule from classical sources.

What is the Golden Rule of the universal law? ›

Golden Rule, precept in the Gospel of Matthew (7:12): “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. . . .” This rule of conduct is a summary of the Christian's duty to his neighbour and states a fundamental ethical principle.

What is the Golden Rule answer? ›

Answer:
  • Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
  • Treat others with kindness and respect, just as you would want to be treated.
  • Show empathy and understanding towards others, as you would want someone to do for you.
  • Help others in need, as you would hope for assistance if you were in a similar situation.
Sep 3, 2023

What is an example of the law of reciprocity? ›

An example of this is when you do something physical for someone such as helping them move or lending them your lawnmower, they want to pay you back by reciprocating in some way. We have a deep psychological need to be even with others.

What is the rule for reciprocity Why is it so powerful in our society? ›

The law of reciprocity, also known as the golden rule, is a fundamental principle that has been recognized across cultures and throughout history. It suggests that people will respond positively to kind actions and gestures and feel obliged to return the favor.

How is the Golden Rule flawed? ›

It is precisely because (1) It is not an 'infallible guide' to what is right or wrong; (2) It doesn't say what specific acts to do; (3) It “does not replace regular moral norms”; and (4) It asks that the moral agent do something impossible, that any version of the Golden Rule that would still be recognizable as the ...

How effective is the Golden Rule? ›

It provides a solution only if you can directly ask the other person precisely how they want to be treated — and if that option is available, you don't really need an overriding axiom to guide your behavior. This is why the Golden Rule is ultimately like every other maxim: It works flawlessly, until it doesn't.

Why is the Golden Rule effective? ›

It helps you establish a standard of behavior and influence others to adhere to that standard in all situations and circ*mstances. This makes decisions about how to treat people in different situations easier. When you always practice the Golden Rule, you always leave the customer feeling heard and validated.

Why is the golden rule limited law? ›

The golden rule is restricted in its use as it can be used only when the literal rule leads to ambiguities in interpretation. Its use thus becomes limited and rare. It is unpredictable and lacks guidelines. One of the main disadvantages of the rule is that judges can twist the meaning of the words and change the law.

What is the golden rule example? ›

Examples of the golden rule

(positive form) If you don't want people to be rude to you, then you shouldn't be rude to them. (negative form) If you want people to help you in a selfless manner, then you should also help them in a selfless manner.

Who created the golden rule? ›

As for Judaism, we can read the Golden Rule for the first time in the Book of Tobias, dated 200 BC, but Jesus Christ has turned it into a positive sentence: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

What happens when you disobey the Golden Rule? ›

Answer: "Do not do unto others what you do not want them to do unto you" you simply admit to yourself that you do not need others to survive which is a negative trait. You conscience will tell you that you have done a wrong act.

What does the golden mean is the ethic of reciprocity? ›

The Golden Rule, referred to in Philosophy as the Ethic of Reciprocity, is a basic moral principle which states that individuals should treat others in the same manner they wish to be treated.

What does the rule of reciprocity state quizlet? ›

The rule of reciprocity states that we should respond in kind and therefore we should feel okay exploiting a favor that was exploitative in nature. The idea of "you get what you pay for" means that we assume there is a negative correlation between the price of an item and its quality.

What is the principle of reciprocity Confucius? ›

The Confucian concept of reciprocity, known as shu, is sometimes called the “Silver Rule” because it is a negative formulation of the Golden Rule, meaning that it proscribes against imposing on others what one does not want to be imposed upon oneself.

What is the reciprocity principle quizlet? ›

Principle of reciprocity. When you do something for somebody, they automatically feel obliged to return the favor.

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