Metaethics Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

"A maxim or rule of ethical conduct advocating reciprocal relationship. Stated as “Do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matt 7:12 NIV;cf. Luke 6:31). Its negative formulation (also known as the Silver Rule) was prominent in early Judaism as formulated by Hillel the Elder ( הלל ) (c. 32 BC–AD 7), “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” (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a).

Jesus states that both the Golden Rule and the two greatest commandments are a summary of the law and prophets. In echoing Matthew 5:17, Jesus is calling the disciples to a righteousness greater than the Pharisee adherence to the letter of the Law. In 22:34–40 Jesus is challenged to summarize the law in a single greatest commandment. The quest for such a summary was common among Jewish teachers. The summary Jesus provides is of the intent rather than the letter of the law (France, 282). Jesus’ Greatest Commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” is a restatement of Leviticus 19:18 and 34 (Matt 22:39, cf. Rom 13:8–10; Gal 5:14; Jas 2:8). The roughly contemporary rabbi Hillel the Elder, unlike his rival Shammai (50 BC–AD 30), also accepts the challenge to summarize the law. His formulation of the Golden Rule, however, is negatively focused. Other parallels are found throughout Jewish and pagan literature, but the focus is primarily negative. Jesus’ positive formulation is a stronger interpretation of the command to love one’s neighbor.

The description of this phrase as the “Golden Rule” is attributed to the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus (AD 22235), who had it inscribed in gold on the wall of his chamber. Similar references to this ethical principle are found throughout other cultures and religions. Confucius (551–479 BC) famously said, “Do not do to others what you would not want others to do to you" (Analects 15:23). It may be found in ancient Babylon, China, Egypt, Persia, Rome, Greece, and India. It may be seen in Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Taoism, Scientology, Wicca, and others. In philosophical traditions it has a presence in Existentialism, Humanism, Platonism, modern psychology, and countless others. In comparing different formulations of the Golden Rule, one should note that each articulation has its cultural nuances. Reciprocity does not equal the love of the Golden Rule and oversimplified comparison should be avoided. Some forms of reciprocity amount to a debtor’s ethic or unrestrained self interest, where one seeks to ensure good treatment by others.

Criticisms of the Golden Rule have arisen in response to its sweeping reciprocity. George Bernard Shaw states that one should not do as they would be done by because “their tastes may not be the same” (“Maxims for Revolutionists”; 1903). Often referred to as the “Platinum Rule” Karl Popper wrote "The golden rule is a good standard which is further improved by doing unto others, wherever reasonable, as they want to be done by" (The Open Society and Its Enemies, Vol. 2, 1945). This critique, offered by many philosophers, highlights that different people want to be treated differently. Immanuel Kant critiqued it on the grounds that it does not sufficiently consider different situations. The rebuttal to these critiques is that the Golden Rule implies a consideration for how the other person wants to be treated. Marcus George Singer observed that the rule can be interpreted in one of two ways: One can take the rule as advocating one to do specific actions to others that one wants others to do to oneself, or one can govern their actions towards by general principles that one would like others to apply when acting toward oneself (The Ideal of a Rational Morality, 270). Jeffrey Wattles advocates applying the Golden Rule to one’s own method of using it (The Golden Rule, 6). In effect, the rule is self correcting and one should ask if they want others to apply the rule toward them in the same way they are applying it toward others.""