Sarah Mitchell
The Golden Rule is a moral philosophy that is closely associated with Christian ethics, but its origins can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophy and Asian culture. The most common version of the rule is Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, which appears in the Gospel of Matthew. The rule is also found in the writings of St. Paul and other New Testament passages. While the Golden Rule is often associated with Christianity, it is not exclusive to any one religion and can be found in some form in almost every ethical tradition. For example, Confucius articulated a version of the Golden Rule long before Christianity. The rule is also present in the Old Testament, Zoroastrianism, and the Torah. In the 21st century, with increasing globalization and cultural mixing, the Golden Rule has emerged as a shared value that can help diverse people live together harmoniously.
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What You'll Learn
The Golden Rule in the Gospel of Matthew
The Golden Rule, a common principle in ancient Greek philosophy and Asian culture, is closely associated with Christian ethics. The rule, in its positive form, appears in the Gospel of Matthew (7:12): "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you". This rule of conduct, also known as a summary of a Christian's duty to their neighbour, is a fundamental ethical principle.
The Golden Rule is not unique to Christianity, with its negative form appearing in the writings of Jewish scholars Hillel and Philo of Alexandria, as well as in the Analects of Confucius. The negative form of the rule, "Do not do to others what you would not like done to yourselves", also appears in the Old Testament Deuterocanonical books of Tobit and Sirach, recognised by the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodoxy.
The rule, as stated in the Gospel of Matthew, is a part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where he says: "All things...that you want men to do to you, you also must do to them". This is also expressed as "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". The Golden Rule encourages treating others with respect, kindness, and love, as one would want to be treated.
Jesus' teaching of the Golden Rule is a conclusion drawn from his previous statements in Matthew 7:7-11, where he tells his followers that God is a loving father who provides for those who ask. This generosity of God should inspire followers to be generous to others. The rule is a summary of the Old Testament's message of loving one's neighbour, as seen in Romans 13:8-10.
The Golden Rule is a powerful concept, encouraging a radical way of living that is centred on God's generosity and commands. It is not a bland moral advice but a challenging guideline for Jesus' followers, promoting good relations and egalitarianism.
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The Golden Rule in the Torah
The Golden Rule, a widely recognised ethical principle, is present in the Torah in various forms. The Torah verse, Leviticus 19:18, states: "Love your neighbour as yourself". This is considered the earliest written version of the Golden Rule in its positive form. The negative form of the rule, "What you would have others do unto you, do not unto them", also appears in the Torah.
The Golden Rule is closely associated with Christian ethics, but its origins go back further and are also found in Asian culture. The rule is a simple and universal principle, urging people to treat others as they would like to be treated. It is a fundamental principle of equality, reminding people that they are peers and deserve comparable consideration.
The rule appears in the Torah in Leviticus 19:34, which states: "The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I the Lord am your God". Commentators interpret this as applying to foreigners, proselytes ('strangers who reside with you'), and Jews. The classic commentator Rashi quotes Rabbi Akiva, who proclaimed that "Love your fellow as yourself" is a great principle of the Torah.
Rabbi Akiva's interpretation of the Golden Rule as a central principle of Judaism has been significant for Jews, particularly Reform Jews, who continue to define, debate, and enact the principle of love of neighbour. Hillel the Elder, a Jewish scholar in the 1st century BCE, also used this verse as a central message in his teachings.
The Golden Rule is a fundamental ethical principle that transcends religious and cultural boundaries, appearing in various forms in almost every ethical and religious tradition.
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The Golden Rule in ancient Greek philosophy
The Golden Rule is a moral code and universal law that is closely associated with Christian ethics. However, its origins can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophy, where it appeared in a prohibitive or negative form.
The ancient Greeks expressed the Golden Rule as a general concept in various ways. Thales (c. 624–c. 546 BCE) advised, "Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing." Sextus the Pythagorean, meanwhile, counselled, "What you do not want to happen to you, do not do it yourself either." Plato (c. 420–c. 347 BCE) took a stance on property, saying, "Ideally, no one should touch my property or tamper with it, unless I have given him some sort of permission, and, if I am sensible I shall treat the property of others with the same respect." Isocrates (436–338 BCE) contributed, "Do not do to others that which angers you when they do it to you."
The Golden Rule was also present in other ancient cultures, such as in Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Confucianism, and Indian philosophy. In the Pahlavi Texts of Zoroastrianism (c. 300 BCE–1000 CE), the concept is expressed as, "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing to another whatsoever is not good for itself." The Acaranga Sutra, a text of Jainism, sums up the philosophy as, "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." Confucian philosopher Mencius emphasised the law of reciprocity, stating, "If one acts with a vigorous effort at the law of reciprocity, when he seeks for the realization of perfect virtue, nothing can be closer than his approximation to it." In the Indian epic Mahābhārata, the sage Brihaspati tells the king Yudhishthira about dharma, or a philosophical understanding of values and actions that lend good order to life: "One should never do something to others that one would regard as an injury to one's own self. In brief, this is dharma. Anything else is succumbing to desire."
The Golden Rule has been interpreted in various ways throughout history, and its philosophical underpinnings have been subject to debate and analysis. While it is commonly associated with Christianity, its roots extend far back into ancient philosophical and religious traditions.
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The Golden Rule in Zoroastrianism
The Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", is a universal ethical code that can be found in all the main religions and schools of thought of the world. It is believed to have originated as early as 3,000 BC in the Vedic Indian tradition.
Zoroastrianism, a religion that originated from the teachings of the philosopher Zoroaster who lived in Persia (present-day Iran) in the 600s BCE, also includes the Golden Rule. In Zoroastrianism, the central belief is that God, Ahura Mazda (The Wise Lord), is all good and he created the world; therefore, it is also good. All misery, disease, suffering, and death are the assault of the evil one, Angra Mainyu.
The primary ethical value in Zoroastrianism is to practice good thoughts, words, and deeds. Good is considered anything that is life-supporting, conducive to order, harmony (asha), and peace. Anger, lust, and greed are regarded as evil because they threaten this order. Zoroastrians believe it is their duty to fight evil in all its forms, both physical and spiritual, and to care for the environment, the animal world, and other people.
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The Golden Rule in Confucianism
The Analects, written by Confucius's students, collects his teachings on education, government, the definition of nobility, the equality of man, and the right way and purpose of living. Confucius's philosophy of compassion and fairness has influenced the development of modern government and education in China and the West. His ideas have also shaped Chinese political and religious thought for the past 2,500 years.
Confucius's philosophy emphasised the excellence of character, particularly in the basic relationships of society: father and son, husband and wife, older brother and younger brother, emperor and minister, and friend and friend. The primary emphasis was on the family, and every relationship but the last was asymmetrical, involving a superior and a subordinate.
Confucius's student, Tseng Tzu, interpreted his teachings as being based on loyalty and consideration: "The Way of our Master is none other than conscientiousness (chung) and altruism (shu)". This interpretation became standard Confucian doctrine and assured the perennial status of the golden rule.
The major philosophers who further developed the Confucian Golden Rule were Mencius (371-289 BCE) and Chu Hsi (1130-1200 CE). Mencius stated that "If one acts with a vigorous effort at the law of reciprocity, when he seeks for the realization of perfect virtue, nothing can be closer than his approximation to it".
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Frequently asked questions
The Golden Rule is a moral philosophy that states that one should "treat others as one would like others to treat oneself".
The Golden Rule is closely associated with Christian ethics, particularly the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. However, its origins go back further and it is also found in Asian cultures, including Zoroastrianism and Confucianism.
The Golden Rule is a shared concept between Catholics and Protestants, as well as other religious and non-religious belief systems.
In the Gospel of Matthew (7:12), the positive form of the rule is stated as: "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you". The negative form of the rule is found in the Old Testament: "And what you hate, do not do to anyone" (Tobit 4:15).
