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The Wiki entry on the ethic of reciprocity or "The Golden Rule" presents a challenge.
The Golden Rule is a fundamental moral principle found in virtually all major religions and cultures, 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:
* "Love your neighbor as yourself." — Moses (ca. 1525-1405 BCE) in the Torah, Leviticus 19:18 * "What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others." — Confucius (ca. 551–479 BCE) * "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man." — Hillel (ca. 50 BCE-10 CE) * "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." — Jesus (ca. 5 BCE—33 CE) in the Gospels, Luke 6:31; Luke 10:27 (affirming of Moses)— Matthew 7:12 * "Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you." — Muhammad (c. 571 – 632 CE) in The Farewell Sermon.
Interpretation The rule is meaningless without identifying the recipient and the situation. Otherwise, a depressed person who wishes to be killed would be morally obligated to kill others. It has to include an attempt to put yourself in the recipient's shoes and eva uate how you would wish to be treated if you were in their situation. Another way to rewrite the rule would be "treat others as you would like to be treated, if you were them".
Why isn't the Golden Rule taught more comprehensively in all schools? There is no other value that could be taught but of course it has preferably to be taught in relation to a number of other principles which could well include the following; belief that we are all members of one human family and that it is our struggle of being in the world that unites us
acceptance that culture is relative and diverse
belief that accounts of the religious are inevitably subjective
a willingness to act repectfully toward other belief systems and be willing to seek such inner core
truth and light as they contain
recognition that fundamentalism is a 'lust for certainty' that inevitably leads to a downgrading of
those outside the group SEE ALSO other sections of this site and the Q) Main SunWALK content More places to follow up consideration of the Golden rule: http://www.jcu.edu/philosophy/gensler/goldrule.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethic_of_reciprocity
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