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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.
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Ethical teaching interprets the Golden Rule as mutual respect for one\'s neighbour (rather than as a deontological or consequentialist rule.) 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)
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.
The Golden Rule was a common principle in ancient Greek philosophy. A few examples:
The "Declaration Toward a Global Ethic"TOWARDS A GLOBAL ETHIC urbandharma.org from the Parliament of the World’s ReligionsThe Council for a Parliament of the World\'s Religions. (1993) proclaimed the Golden Rule (both in negative and positive form) as the common principle for many religions.Towards a Global Ethic (An Initial Declaration) ReligiousTolerance.org The Initial Declaration was signed by 143 leaders from different faith traditions and spiritual communities.
The eight-spoked Dharmacakra.
In addition, the Dalai Lama has stated:
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.Dalai Lama. Quotes from the Dalai Lama (html) (english). Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
The Ringstone symbol represents humanity\'s connection to God
From the sacred scriptures of the Baha\'i Faith:
"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.Words of Wisdom See: The Golden RuleBaha\'u\'llah, Gleanings, LXVI:8Hidden Words of Baha\'u\'llah, p10
"Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." Baha\'u\'llah;The Golden Rule Baha\'i FaithTablets of Baha\'u\'llah, p71
"And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Baha\'u\'llah.The Hidden Words of Bahá\'u\'lláh -- Part IIEpistle to the Son of the Wolf, p30
Christianity adopted the ethic of reciprocity 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.
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."
Confucius said in The Analects:
Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself. Analects XV.24, tr. David Hinton
In addition to the law of karma, the Bhagavad Gita contains a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna with the statement:
That one I love who is incapable of ill will, And returns love for hatred.http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-12-15.htmlAs portrayed by Swami Vivekanand- Do good and forget, don\'t expect any reward.
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In his Last Sermon, the Prophet Muhammad admonished believers:
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."Jeffrey Wattles, The Golden Rule (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996) 4, 191-192, Questia, 24 July 2007
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.
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
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Nothing which breathes, which exists, which lives, or which has essence or potential of life, should be destroyed or ruled over, or subjugated, or harmed, or denied of its essence or potential. In support of this Truth, I ask you a question - "Is sorrow or pain desirable to you ?" If you say "yes it is", it would be a lie. If you say, "No, It is not" you will be expressing the truth. Just as sorrow or pain is not desirable to you, so it is to all which breath, exist, live or have any essence of life. To you and all, it is undesirable, and painful, and repugnant.Jacobi, Hermann (1884). Ācāranga Sūtra, Jain Sutras Part I, Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 22.. Sutra 155-6 | ” |
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
Star of David above the Ten Commandments
The Sage Hillel formulated the Golden Rule in order to illustrate the underlying principles of Jewish moral law:Gensler, Harry J. (1996). Formal Ethics. Routledge, 105. ISBN 0415130662.
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.Talmud, Shabbat 31a
Rabbi Akiba ben Joseph emphasized the importance of Leviticus 19:18.
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.[1]
While the golden rule in religion implies devotion to selflessness, often "The Golden Rule" is recited as "Whoever has the gold makes the rules."Lyndon Foreman Although websites credit Foreman, his precise significance as a notable figure is unclear. This ironic version is most often used dismissively by economists and stock traders and has nearly the exact opposite meaning as the traditional golden rule.
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