What is the Ethic of Reciprocity? = The Golden Rule

[Leah]

Ethic of Reciprocity

The ethic of reciprocity or the Golden Rule is a fundamental moral value 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, though it is not without its critics.

Ethical teaching interprets the Golden Rule as mutual respect for one's neighbour (rather than as a deontological or consequentialist rule). 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. Principal philosophers and religious figures have stated it in different ways.



Ancient Greek philosophy

     The Golden Rule was a common principle in ancient Greek philosophy. A few examples:

       "Do not to your neighbor what you would take ill from him." (Pittacus)
       "Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing." (Thales)
       "What you wish your neighbors to be to you, such be also to them." (Sextus the Pythagorean)
       "Do not do to others what would anger you if done to you by others." (Isocrates)
       "What thou avoidest suffering thyself seek not to impose on others." (Epictetus)


Christianity
 
Within Christian circles, the ethic of reciprocity is often called the "Golden Rule".

Christianity adopted the ethic 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.

Several passages in the New Testament quote Jesus of Nazareth espousing the ethic of reciprocity, including the following:

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.


Luke 10:25-28

       25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
       26He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’
       27He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’
       28And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’


Jesus then proceeds to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan, making it clear that "your neighbour" means any other person.



Following are six of the worlds great religions. They are listed in alphabetical order..... they tell us about the way a truly religious/spiritual person of a faith or belief - treats others:
 

Buddhism
Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.
 
Christianity
In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you
 
Hinduism
Do not unto others what would cause you pain if done to you.
 
Islam
No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.
 
Judaism
What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man.
 
Taoism
Regard you neighbor’s gain as your own gain and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss.




Humanism

Humanists acknowledge human interdependence, the need for mutual respect and the kinship of all humanity.
Humanists affirm that individual and social problems can only be resolved by means of human reason, intelligent effort, critical thinking joined with compassion and a spirit of empathy for all living beings.


Native American Spirituality

       "Respect for all life is the foundation."  The Great Law of Peace
 
       "All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One."   Black Elk
 
       "Do not wrong or hate your neighbor. For it is not he who you wrong, but yourself."   Pima proverb



Unitarian 

       The inherent worth and dignity of every person

       Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
       
       The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all

       We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.  'Unitarian principles'



 

Note:   Exceptions to the Ethic of Reciprocity:

A few religions, such as Satanism and The Creativity Movement have what might be called an Ethic of Non-Reciprocity.

 http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm

[Leah]

Healthy Boundaries = Without Malice                                                        http://www.bible-topics.com/Malice.html


"Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. A boundary is a personal property line that marks those things for which we are responsible. In other words, boundaries define who we are, and who we are not.

Boundaries impact all areas of our lives:   Physical boundaries help us determine who may touch us - Mental boundaries give us the freedom to have our own thoughts - Emotional boundaries help us to deal with our own emotions - Spiritual boundaries help us to distinguish God's will from our own."

http://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-When-Take-Control-Your/dp/0310247454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215007161&sr=1-1

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."         Philippians 1:27

[LilyCat]

Just wanted to say, this is the second of the greatest commandments, the first being love God. (To paraphrase.)

Hard to live up to, but something to always hold in front of your eyes,

[Leah]

Yes, indeed, LilyCat,

As in  http://www.bible-topics.com/Love-to-Man.html


Every good wish to you, and thoughts of you during the next few days with your family.

Love, Leah

[Leah]

Treat others as you want to be treated

A short essay on the golden rule

The golden rule is endorsed by all the great world religions; Jesus, Hillel, and Confucius used it to summarize their ethical teachings. And for many centuries the idea has been influential among people of very diverse cultures. These facts suggest that the golden rule may be an important moral truth.

The golden rule is best interpreted as saying: "Treat others only in ways that you're willing to be treated in the same exact situation." To apply it, you'd imagine yourself in the exact place of the other person on the receiving end of the action. If you act in a given way toward another, and yet are unwilling to be treated that way in the same circumstances, then you violate the rule.

To apply the golden rule adequately, we need knowledge and imagination. We need to know what effect our actions have on the lives of others. And we need to be able to imagine ourselves, vividly and accurately, in the other person's place on the receiving end of the action. With knowledge, imagination, and the golden rule, we can progress far in our moral thinking.

The golden rule is best seen as a consistency principle. It doesn't replace regular moral norms.   It isn't an infallible guide on which actions are right or wrong; it doesn't give all the answers. It only prescribes consistency - that we not have our actions (toward another) be out of harmony with our desires (toward a reversed situation action). It tests our moral coherence. If we violate the golden rule, then we're violating the spirit of fairness and concern that lie at the heart of morality.

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. As the world becomes more and more a single interacting global community, the need for such a common standard is becoming more urgent.


http://www.jcu.edu/philosophy/gensler/goldrule.htm

[LilyCat]

Thanks, Leah. I had to think of this when thinking of my cousin. He was certainly a shining, shining example of this. Wish you could have heard what the preacher said at his service ... which was not news to any of us.