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The ethic of reciprocity or "The Golden Rule" is a fundamental moral principle 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,

The Principle of Tolerance

Ethical teaching interprets the Golden Rule as mutual respect for one's neighbour (rather than as a deontological or consequentialist rule.) Most of us know that different people have different faiths or ideological beliefs, different preferences concerning sex or other matters, and may belong to a different cultural heritage. 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 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)

A key element of the ethic of reciprocity is that a person attempting to live by this rule treats all people, not just members of his or her in-group, with consideration.

Religion

Global ethic

The "Declaration Toward a Global Ethic" from Parliament of the World’s Religions proclaim the Golden Rule (both in negative and positive form) as the common principle for many religions. The Declaration was signed by more than 200 leaders from 40+ different faith traditions and spiritual communities.

Bahá'í

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Christianity

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Confucianism

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Hinduism

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Islam

Many quotes from the Qur’an and among the Hadith have been cited as examples of the Golden Rule in Islam.

“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”

The Qur'an also 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"

“None of you believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”

"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 ."

“That which you want for yourself, seek for mankind.”

"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."

Jainism

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Judaism

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Sikhism

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Buddhism

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Quotes

• "The golden rule ... 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)

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Effects of the Golden Rule on politics

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Reciprocal altruism and tit for tat

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Footnotes

• JFK's 11 June1963 "Radio and Television Report to the American People on Civil Rights," transcript from the JFK library. Partly described (and multiply quoted) in the text above. As described in graphic 1963 events, President Kennedy sent his civil rights bill to the United States Congress on 19 June1963 leading to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 via the Congressional give-and-take described there.
• Harry Gensler's essay, The Golden Rule, published in the Blackwell Dictionary of Business Ethics (Routledge 1997 ISBN 1-55786-942-1). For more background, and for more information about the golden rule, plus links and lists of books about it, see his website The Golden Rule. His links include his teaching website, Web Exercises.

Notes

1. Jeffrey Wattles, The Golden Rule (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996) 4, 191-192, Questia, 24 July 2007
2. • Qur’an (Surah 83, "The Unjust," vv. 1-4)
   • Wattles (191)
   • Rost, H.T.D. The Golden Rule: A Universal Ethic, 100. Oxford, 1986
3. • Qur’an (Surah 59, "Exile," vv. 9)
   • Wattles (192)
   • Rost (100)
4. • An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith 13 (p. 56)
   • Wattles (191)
   • Rost (100)
5. • Sukhanan-i-Muhammad (Teheran, 1938)
   • Wattles (192)
   • Rost (100)
   • Donaldson Dwight M. 1963. Studies in Muslim Ethics, p.82. London: S.P.C.K
6. • Sukhanan-i-Muhammad (Teheran, 1938)
   • Wattles (192)
   • Rost (100)
   • Donaldson (82)
7. • Sukhanan-i-Muhammad (Teheran, 1938)
   • Wattles (192)
   • Rost (100)
   • Donaldson (82)

See also

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

External links

Practical applications of the golden rule to our real world problems

1. Application to racism in the United States in 1963, 1964, partly described in the text and the above Template:Ref harvard.
2. Application to terrorism.
3. UNESCO report on global ethics.
4. A sample of applications to business. The golden rule is also in business books, e.g., the Blackwell book in the above Template:Ref harvard.

The general application of the golden rule

1. David Keating's Golden Rule Radical
2. Bill McGinnis's Committee for the Golden Rule.
3. How to conduct a workshop on the golden rule.
4. Application to moral education.

Other external links

• 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

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