"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
The Golden Rule is at the very least a good starting model for your life, but does it also exhibit some flaws? All people are different. Not everyone wants to be treated like another person. You may want someone to give you a horse, but someone else may think getting a horse is actualy bad (they don't want one and they'll have to maintain one). So they don't want you to do to them what you want someone to do to you. So perhaps a better guideline/rule would be to not think what someone else wants (based on yours), but to actualy attain the knowledge of what they want from them, and go from there.
Of course i guess you could also say that the Golden Rule shouldn't be applied to everything (like the horse example) but applied to everyone wants what they want, so do what they want. So it is applied in a vague way rather than a specific way, which makes the statement somewhat confusing.
2007-12-04 06:43:49 · 7 answers · asked by lufiabuu 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."....Only do it first.
Perhaps a better phrasing of the golden rule theorem might be: "Treat others only as you consent to being treated in the same situation." To apply GR, I'd imagine myself in the other person's place on the receiving end of the action. GR forbids this combination:
* I do something to another.
* I'm unwilling that this be done to me in the same situation.
GR doesn't tell us what specific act to do. And it doesn't replace regular moral norms. It only prescribes consistency -- that we not have our actions (toward another) be out of harmony with our desires (about a reversed-situation action). To apply GR adequately, we need knowledge and imagination.
If we're conscientious and impartial, then we'll follow GR -- since then we won't do something to another unless we believe it would be all right -- and thus believe it would be all right to do to us in the same situation -- and thus are willing that it be done to us in the same situation.
2007-12-04 06:55:17 · answer #1 · answered by Easy B Me II 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i see what u are saying and apparently u are right , the golden rule is not perfect as nothing in this world is , so i would like to give a better example to the one u gave : well first lets assume that i am a sadomasochist , well according to the rule i should treat u as i would like to be treated , however as u explained not everyone likes the same so therefor it would not be fair in this case to apply the golden rule to everyone else . so what this means is that the golden rule only assumes that u actually and only want to do what its acceptable to society to yourself but what if there is not love for yourself in u ??? then golden rules suddenly doesn't look so shinny , yes it has it flaws but most things if not everything do have flaws .
2007-12-04 07:08:25 · answer #2 · answered by game over 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thanks for you question. It is thought provoking.
According to the words of Jesus, the first part of this law is "Love your God with all your heart and all your soul." and the second part is very much like the first "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." What you have quoted is perfectly fine. The above is referenced only to broaden our understanding.
For one to consider that because he wants or needs something, everyone else should want or need the same thing is not really loving others but somewhat narcissistic. So your assessment is right. To do unto others as you would have them do unto you means that they have some awareness of what your individual needs are and you have a knowledge of their needs, desires and cultural makeup.
In this sense we move from the material needs of our neighbors and towards their spiritual needs fulfilling both harmoniously.
Blessings and peace to all,
All in all,
B
2007-12-04 07:36:41 · answer #3 · answered by An Nony Mous 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i've heard of a variation called "the platinum rule" - i think it comes from Dale Carnegie or some related matter. anyhow, it suggests you treat others as they would like to be treated, which would of course require some getting to know the other person.
true, the golden rule can't be extended to everything you do- mostly just showing good manners.
2007-12-04 07:03:47 · answer #4 · answered by Joseph G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're quite right. That is how the GR was intended. It was intended to strengthen the bonds between people.
2007-12-04 11:44:09 · answer #5 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are misinterpreting the saying. If you want love and caring, that is what you give to other people.
2007-12-04 06:53:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anna P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Golden Rule comes from "Heart" not "head"........
2007-12-04 06:46:58 · answer #7 · answered by Premaholic 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋