The golden rule is quite a powerful rule to live by. But is it infallible?

[aliensalmon]

The golden rule basically states to treat others as how you would want them to treat you.

I personally think it's a powerful guiding principle to stand by. But is it infallible? Can you think of any weaknesses or criticisms to this rule, or ways to strengthen it?

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

The so called platinum rule "Treat people as they want to be treated" is slightly better for many situations, but both rules are easy to pick apart with counter examples that make simple approaches to ethics hard.

For example, both rules imply I should just give random people tons of money, which isn't really reasonable... they are good guidelines, but every rule in ethics has tons of exceptions.

I tend to think the more important ethics rules are about what you do NOT do, rather than what you do. The idea that you shouldn't initiate force or fraud against people is popular among libertarians and MOSTLY good, but also has it's flaws in public policy.

TL;DR: Ethics is hard.

 

[aliensalmon]

The so called platinum rule "Treat people as they want to be treated" is slightly better for many situations, but both rules are easy to pick apart with counter examples that make simple approaches to ethics hard.

For example, both rules imply I should just give random people tons of money, which isn't really reasonable... they are good guidelines, but every rule in ethics has tons of exceptions.

I tend to think the more important ethics rules are about what you do NOT do, rather than what you do. The idea that you shouldn't initiate force or fraud against people is popular among libertarians and MOSTLY good, but also has it's flaws in public policy.

TL;DR: Ethics is hard.

Yes, Ethics is indeed hard! That's why I like to ask these hard questions. But yeah, you're right it's better to focus on what not to do than what to do.

 

[Noodles]

 

[Essence Lumin]

The golden rule basically states to treat others as how you would want them to treat you.

I personally think it's a powerful guiding principle to stand by. But is it infallible? Can you think of any weaknesses or criticisms to this rule, or ways to strengthen it?

Or often put, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", sometimes phrased as, "Do unto others before they do unto you".

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

In other words the categorical imperative by Immanuel Kant.

Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.

 

[Free]

What if the other person is someone you highly desire to have ravish you? They might be a bit offput by having you do that without their consent.

 

[Casey Pelous]

"Thou shalt not be a dick. Neither shalt thou be the hole of an ass."

- Jesus​

 

[Veritable Quandry]

Confucius provides what is called "the silver rule." Do not do to others what you would not want others to do to you.

The difference being that the golden rule essentially says do good, while the silver rules says don't do bad.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Do people consciously apply ethical rules when making decisions? I don't normally have to spend much time worrying about whether something is ethical or not in the way I might analyse whether or not it's prohibited by a particular law. I know it's either something I'm prepared to do or I'm not prepared to do, because of whatever rules and codes of behaviour (often contradictory) I've internalised over the years, and sometimes it's something I know I shouldn't do but I go ahead and do it anyway.

 

[CronoCloud Creeggan]

<air guitar> Station!

 

[Jopsy Pendragon]

The golden rule doesn't work for masochists and self destructive individuals.

"tolerate in others that which you would have them tolerate of you" doesn't work so great either, because a serious percentage of people lack basic empathy.

"Respect the autonomy and agency of others, or others will actively stop respecting your own" maybe?

 

[Isabeau]

The With Salt and Pepper rule; eat the rich.

 

[Casey Pelous]

The golden rule doesn't work for masochists and self destructive individuals.

"tolerate in others that which you would have them tolerate of you" doesn't work so great either, because a serious percentage of people lack basic empathy.

"Respect the autonomy and agency of others, or others will actively stop respecting you own" maybe?

"Said the masochist to the sadist, 'Beat me, beat me!"

Said the sadist to the masochist, "Buahahaha! NO!'"