Parable of the Good Samaritan

The ethic of reciprocity or The Golden Rule is a fundamental moral value 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, though it is not without its critics. Parable of the Good Samaritan, Rembrandt, 1632–1633 The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a famous New Testament parable appearing only in the Gospel of Luke. ... Morality (from the Latin manner, character, proper behavior) has three principal meanings. ... Value is worth in general, and it is thought to be connected to reasons for certain practices, policies, actions, beliefs or emotions. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ...

Ethical teaching interprets the Golden Rule as mutual respect for one's neighbour (rather than as a deontological or consequentialist rule). A key element of the golden rule is that a person attempting to live by this rule treats all people, not just members of his or her in-group with consideration. The golden rule, with roots in a wide range of world cultures, is well suited to be a standard to which different cultures could appeal in resolving conflicts. Principal philosophers and religious figures have stated it in different ways. In moral philosophy, deontology is the view that morality either forbids or permits actions, which is done through moral norms. ... Consequentialism is the belief that what ultimately matters in evaluating actions or policies of action are the consequences that result from choosing one action or policy rather than the alternative. ... In sociology, an ingroup is a social group towards which an individual feels loyalty and respect, usually due to membership in the group. ...

Ancient Greek philosophy

The Golden Rule was a common principle in ancient Greek philosophy. A few examples: The term ancient Greece refers to the periods of Greek history in Classical Antiquity, lasting ca. ... Greek philosophy focused on the role of reason and inquiry. ...

"Do not to your neighbor what you would take ill from him." (Pittacus)^[1]

"Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing." (Thales)^[2]

"What you wish your neighbors to be to you, such be also to them." (Sextus the Pythagorean)^[3]

"Do not do to others what would anger you if done to you by others." (Isocrates)^[4]

"What thou avoidest suffering thyself seek not to impose on others." (Epictetus)^[5]

Bust of Pittacos, Roman copy of a Greek original of the Late Classical period, Louvre Pittacus (c. ... For the Defense and Security Company, see Thales Group. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Bust of Pythagoras Pythagoreanism is a term used for the esoteric and metaphysical beliefs held by Pythagoras and his followers, the Pythagoreans, who were much influenced by mathematics and probably a main inspirational source for Plato and platonism. ... Isocrates (436–338 BC), Greek rhetorician. ... Epictetus (Greek: Επίκτητος; ca. ...

Religion

Global ethic

Main article: Towards a Global Ethic: An Initial Declaration

The "Declaration Toward a Global Ethic"^[6] from the Parliament of the World’s Religions^[7] (1993) proclaimed the Golden Rule (both in negative and positive form) as the common principle for many religions.^[8] The Initial Declaration was signed by 143 leaders from different faith traditions and spiritual communities.^[8] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Parliament of the Worlds Religions. ...

Buddhism

The eight-spoked Dharmacakra.

See also: Buddhism

Putting oneself in the place of another,

one should not kill nor cause another to kill.^[9]

One who, while himself seeking happiness, oppresses with violence other

beings who also desire happiness, will not attain happiness hereafter.^[10]

In addition, the Dalai Lama has stated: Image File history File links Dharma_wheel. ... Image File history File links Dharma_wheel. ... The Dharmacakra (Sanskrit) or Dhammacakka (Pāli), Tibetan , Chinese fălún 法轮, Wheel of Dharma is an auspicious Buddhist symbol representing a Buddhas teaching of the path to enlightenment. ... Buddhism is a variety of teachings described as a religion[1] or way of life that attempts to identify the causes of human suffering and offer various ways that are claimed to end, or ease suffering. ... This article is about the Dalai Lama lineage. ...

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.^[11]

Baha'i Faith

The Ringstone symbol represents humanity's connection to God

See also: Bahá'í Faith

From the sacred scriptures of the Baha'i Faith: Image File history File links General image of a Bahai symbol. ... Image File history File links General image of a Bahai symbol. ... The official symbol of the Baháí Faith is the five-pointed star, as mentioned by Shoghi Effendi: Strictly speaking the 5-pointed star is the symbol of our Faith, as used by the Báb and explained by Him. ... This article is about the generally recognized global religious community. ...

"Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." Baha'u'llah.^[12][13][14]

"Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." Baha'u'llah;^[15][16]

"And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Baha'u'llah.^[17][18]

Christianity

Ichthys

Within Christian circles, the ethic of reciprocity is often called the "Golden Rule". Christianity adopted the ethic from two edicts, found in Leviticus 19:18 ("Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.") and Leviticus 19:34 ("But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God"). Crucially, Leviticus 19:34 universalizes the edict of Leviticus 19:18 from "one of your people" to all of humankind. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The ichthys has been used to represent a number of ideas. ...

Several passages in the New Testament quote Jesus of Nazareth espousing the ethic of reciprocity, including the following: This article is about the Christian scriptures. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ...

Matthew 7:12
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

Luke 6:27-36
Love Your Enemies

27 "But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either.
30 Give to everyone who asks from you, and from one who takes away your things, don't ask for them back.
31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.
32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
33 If you do [what is] good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full.
35 But love your enemies, do [what is] good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."

Luke 10:25-28

25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
26He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’
27He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’
28And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’

Jesus then proceeds to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan, making it clear that "your neighbour" means any other person. The Good Samaritan The Good Samaritan is a famous New Testament parable, that appears only in the Gospel of Luke (10:25-37). ...

Confucianism

See also: Confucianism

Confucius said in The Analects: A Confucian temple in Wuwei, Peoples Republic of China. ... Confucius (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Kung-fu-tzu), lit. ... Analects (論語 Pinyin: Lúnyǔ), or Analects of Confucius, written in twenty chapters, is thought to be a composition of the late Spring and Autumn Period. ...

Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself. Analects XV.24, tr. David Hinton

Aum symbol

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

Hinduism

See also: Hinduism

In addition to the law of karma, the Bhagavad Gita contains a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna with the statement: Hinduism is a religious tradition[1] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... For other uses, see Karma (disambiguation). ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... This article is about the Hindu deity. ... For other uses, please see Arjun. ...

That one I love who is incapable of ill will, And returns love for hatred.^[19]

As portrayed by Swami Vivekanand- Do good and forget, don't expect any reward.

Islam

See also: Islam

In his Last Sermon, the Prophet Muhammad admonished believers: Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... The Farewell Sermon, also known as the Prophets final sermon, is a famous sermon by Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, delivered before his death, on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, 10 A.H. (632 CE), at the end of his first & final pilgrimage. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ...

• "Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you."

Jeffrey Wattles holds that the ethic of reciprocity appears in the following statement attributed to Muhammad: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself."^[20]

• “Woe to those . . . who, when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure, but when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due”^[21]
• The Qur'an commends "those who show their affection to such as came to them for refuge and entertain no desire in their hearts for things given to the (latter), but give them preference over themselves"^[22]

• “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”^[23]
• "Seek for mankind that of which you are desirous for yourself, that you may be a believer; treat well as a neighbor the one who lives near you, that you may be a Muslim [one who submits to God]."^[24]
• “That which you want for yourself, seek for mankind.”^[24]
• "The most righteous of men is the one who is glad that men should have what is pleasing to himself, and who dislikes for them what is for him disagreeable."^[24]

Jainism

The hand with a wheel on the palm symbolizes the Jain Vow of Ahimsa. The word in the middle is "ahimsa". The wheel represents the dharmacakra which stands for the resolve to halt the cycle of reincarnation through relentless pursuit of truth and non-violence.

See also: Jainism

In Jainism, the ethic of reciprocity is firmly embedded in its entire philosophy and can be seen in its clearest form in the doctrines of Ahimsa and Karma Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Dharmacakra (Sanskrit) or Dhammacakka (Pāli), Tibetan , Chinese fălún 法轮, Wheel of Dharma is an auspicious Buddhist symbol representing a Buddhas teaching of the path to enlightenment. ... Jain and Jaina redirect here. ... The hand with a wheel on the palm symbolizes the Jain Vow of Ahimsa. ... This article is about Jainism. ...

• Following quotation from the Acaranga Sutra sums up the philosophy of Jainism :

• Suman Suttam^[26] gives further insight into this percepts:-

All the living beings wish to live and not to die; that is why unattached saints prohibit the killing of living beings.

—Suman Suttam , verse 148

Just as pain is not agreeable to you, it is so with others. Knowing this principle of equality treat other with respect and compassion.

—Suman Suttam , verse 150

Killing a living being is killing one's own self; showing compassion to a living being is showing compassion to oneself. He who desires his own good, should avoid causing any harm to a living being.

—Suman Suttam , verse 151

Judaism

Star of David above the Ten Commandments

See also: Judaism

The ethic of reciprocity is set forth in Leviticus 19:18 ("Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." NIV[1].) and Leviticus 19:34 ("But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God"). Leviticus 19:34 is important because it universalizes the edict of Leviticus 19:18 from "one of your people" to all of humankind. Download high resolution version (400x632, 33 KB)USAF Religion Pin 2 File links The following pages link to this file: Badges of the United States Air Force Categories: United States government images ... Download high resolution version (400x632, 33 KB)USAF Religion Pin 2 File links The following pages link to this file: Badges of the United States Air Force Categories: United States government images ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The Sage Hillel formulated the Golden Rule in order to illustrate the underlying principles of Jewish moral law:^[27] Hillel (הלל) (born Babylon 1st Century BCE - died ?Jerusalem, 1st Century CE) was a famous Jewish religious leader, one of the most important figures in Jewish history. ...

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.^[28]

Rabbi Akiba ben Joseph emphasized the importance of Leviticus 19:18. Akiba ben Joseph (ca. ...

Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Not surprisingly, Israel's postal service quoted from this verse when it commemorated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on a 1958 postage stamp.[3] The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (abbreviated UDHR) is an advisory declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (A/RES/217, 10 December 1948 at Palais de Chaillot, Paris). ... A selection of Hong Kong postage stamps A postage stamp is evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services. ...

Criticisms

Many people have criticized the golden rule; George Bernard Shaw once said that "The golden rule is that there are no golden rules". Shaw also criticized the golden rule, "Do not do unto others as you would expect they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same." (Maxims for Revolutionists). "The golden rule is a good standard which is further improved by doing unto others, wherever possible, as they want to be done by." Karl Popper (The Open Society and Its Enemies, Vol. 2) Philosophers, such as Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Bertrand Russell, have objected to the rule on a variety of grounds. ^[29]. The most serious among these is its application. How does one know how others want to be treated? The obvious way is to ask them, but this cannot be done if one assumes they have not reached a higher level of understanding. For example, during the Spanish Inquisition, torture and burning were used to save the souls of the guilty. George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856–2 November 1950) was a world-renowned Irish author. ... Sir Karl Raimund Popper (July 28, 1902 â€“ September 17, 1994) was an Austrian and British[1] philosopher and a professor at the London School of Economics. ... The Open Society and Its Enemies, Volume Two The Open Society and Its Enemies is an influential two-volume work by Karl Popper written during World War II. Failing to find a publisher in the United States, it was first printed in London, in 1945. ... Kant redirects here. ... Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (October 15, 1844 – August 25, 1900) (IPA: ) was a nineteenth-century German philologist and philosopher. ... Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS, (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970), was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, advocate for social reform, and pacifist. ...

Group Relevance

The ethic of reciprocity is often applied only to those who share your beliefs, your culture, nationality or race. Strict application of the ethic would make it impossible to fight wars, but which are encountered frequently in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic history. Furthermore, parents don't apply it to their children.

Shared Values

If your values are not shared with others, the way you want to be treated will not be the way they want to be treated. The example of the man walking into a bar looking for a fight, is often used to display this inconsistency. ^[30]

Ironic Version of the Golden Rule

While the golden rule in religion implies devotion to selflessness, often "The Golden Rule" is recited as "Whoever has the gold makes the rules."^[31] Although websites credit Lyndon Foreman for this version, his precise significance as a notable figure is unclear. This ironic version is most often used dismissively by economists and stock traders; it is not so much an opposite of the Golden Rule as an amoral rejection of all moral precepts.

See also

• Categorical imperative
• Competitions
• Ethics in religion
• Force-initiation
• Inalienable rights
• Karma
• Moral universalism
• Natural rights
• Other
• Reciprocal altruism
• Random act of kindness
• Reciprocity (social psychology)
• Silver rule

The categorical imperative is the central philosophical concept of the moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant, and of modern deontological ethics. ... Competition characterises a biochemical, ecologic, economic, political, or sporting activity whereby two or more individuals or groups strive antagonistically against one another for some reward. ... Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with right and wrong in human behavior. ... Force-initiation is the start, or beginning, of the use of physical and/or legal coercion, violence, or restraint. ... The term inalienable rights (or unalienable rights) refers to a set of human rights that are in some sense fundamental, are not awarded by human power, and cannot be surrendered. ... For other uses, see Karma (disambiguation). ... Moral universalism is a moral view, often related to humanist philosophy, which claims that the fundamental basis for a universalist ethic—universally applicable to all humanity—can be derived or inferred from what is common among existing moral codes. ... For other uses, see Universalism (disambiguation). ... The Other or constitutive other (also referred to as othering) is a key concept in continental philosophy, opposed to the Same. ... In evolutionary biology, reciprocal altruism is a form of altruism in which one organism provides a benefit to another in the expectation of future reciprocation. ... A random act of kindness is a purportedly selfless act performed by a person or persons wishing to either assist or cheer up a stranger. ... In social psychology, reciprocity refers to in-kind positive or negative responses of individuals towards the actions of others. ... Related to the ethical principle of the golden rule, the silver rule states Treat others in the way that they wish to be treated. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

The Golden Rule

• Golden Rule in a Nutshell, referencing at least 19 religions / belief systems
• The Golden Rule in Religion
• 10 quotes from about 10 different religions on the golden rule
• The Rules of the Game
• The Golden Rule in World Religions
• Shared belief in the Golden Rule
• The Golden Rule, Village Ethic of Mutual Help from Project Worldview
• Rosicrucians: The Golden Rule
• A short essay on the Golden Rule
• The Golden Rule, Ethic of Reciprocity, and the Wiccan Rede
• The Golden Rule as a Global Ethos by Josef Bordat
• Golden Rule Links and Articles

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Wikiquote is one of a family of wiki-based projects run by the Wikimedia Foundation, running on MediaWiki software. ...

References