Why is the golden rule of ethics called golden? Subject

It was developed by famous thinkers and teachers in ancient times, but is still very relevant today. The Golden Rule of Conduct sets out an overarching moral principle regarding another person within any practical situation. It extends to everything that concerns human relationships.

What is the “golden rule of morality”?

It is present, without exaggeration, in every existing religion in one form or another. The “Golden Rule of Morality” is a fundamental canon that reflects the call of morality. It is most often perceived as its fundamental, most important truth. The moral rule in question is: “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you” (Quod tibi fieri non vis alteri ne feceris).

The concentration of practical wisdom in it is one of the aspects of endless ethical reflections.

Historical facts regarding the rule in question

The period of its origin dates back to the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e., when the humanistic revolution took place. It acquired “golden” status in the 18th century.

It is known that earlier in tribal communities there was a custom regarding blood feud - talion (retribution equivalent to the crime committed). He acted as a kind of limiter of clan enmity, since this cruel law demanded equivalent punishment.

When tribal relations began to disappear, difficulty arose in a clear division, so to speak, into strangers and insiders. Economic ties outside the community often turned out to be more significant than family ties.

Thus, the community no longer sought to answer for the misdeeds of its individual members. In this regard, the talion loses its effectiveness, and the need arises to form a completely new principle that allows regulating interpersonal relationships that do not depend on gender. This is precisely the principle behind the rule: “Treat people the way you would like to be treated.”

Explanation of this ethical rule

In its various formulations there is one common link - “other”. It means any person (close or distant relative, acquaintance or stranger).

The meaning of the “golden rule of morality” is the equivalence of all people with regard to their freedom and opportunity to improve. This is a kind of equality in relation to the best human qualities and optimal standards of behavior.

If you ask the question “The “Golden Rule of Morality” - what is it?”, the answer should reveal not its literal interpretation, but the internal philosophical meaning that brought it to the status of “golden”.

Thus, this ethical rule presupposes an individual person’s advance awareness of the consequences of his actions in the future relative to another person through the projection of himself into his place. It teaches you to treat others as you treat yourself.

In what cultures is it reflected?

At the same time (but independently of each other), the “golden rule of behavior” appeared in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, as well as in ethical and philosophical teaching (Confucianism). One of its formulations can be seen in the Mahabharata (sayings of the Buddha).

It is known that Confucius, answering a question from his student about whether there was such a word that could guide one’s whole life, said: “This word is “reciprocity.” Don’t do to others what you don’t want for yourself.”

In ancient Greek works, it is found in Homer's classic poem "The Odyssey", in Herodotus's prose work "History", as well as in the teachings of Socrates, Aristotle, Hesiod, Plato, Thales of Miletus and Seneca.

In the Bible, this rule is mentioned twice: in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:12; Luke 3:31, Gospel) and in the conversations of the apostles of Jesus Christ.

In the Sunnah (sayings of Muhammad), the “golden rule of morality” states: “Do to all people what you would like people to do to you, and do not do to others what you would not want for yourself.”

Formulations of the “golden rule of morality”

In the past, attempts have been made to classify its form according to aesthetic or social criteria.

Thus, the German philosopher Christian Thomasius identified three main forms of the rule in question, while distinguishing the spheres of law, morality and politics, which he called decency and respect.

They look like this:

The principle of law is philosophically revealed as a kind of requirement, according to which a person should not do to another what he would not want to do to himself.
The principle of decency is presented as an ethical call for an individual to do to another subject what he himself would like to have done to him.
The principle of respect is revealed in the fact that a person should always act towards other people as he would like them to act towards himself.

The German researcher G. Rainer also proposed three formulations of the “golden rule”, which echo the interpretations discussed above (H. Thomasius).

The first formulation is a feeling rule, which says: “(Don’t) do to others what you (don’t) wish for yourself.”
The second - the rule of autonomy sounds: “(Do not) do yourself what you find (not) commendable in another.”
Third, the rule of reciprocity looks like this: “As you (don’t) want people to act towards you, you (don’t) do the same towards them.”

“The golden rule of morality” in proverbs and sayings

This moral canon is firmly entrenched in the mass consciousness of people, mainly in the form of folklore.

So, for example, the meaning of the “golden rule of morality” is reflected in a number of Russian proverbs.

“What you don’t love in another, don’t do that yourself.”
“Don’t dig a hole for someone else - you yourself will fall into it.”
“As it comes around, so it will respond.”
“As you shout into the forest, the forest will respond.”
“What you wish for people, you get for yourself.”
“Don’t spit in the well - you’ll have to drink some water yourself.”
“When you do evil to people, do not expect good from them,” etc.

So, the “golden rule of morality” in proverbs and sayings made it possible to apply it quite often in everyday life and pass it on from generation to generation in the form of easily remembered folklore.

"The Diamond Rule of Morality"

It is in addition to the previously discussed “golden” one. It was the diamond rule that was called because of its versatility, symbolizing human individuality, which is unique in its kind.

So, as stated earlier, the “golden rule of morality” says: “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you.” “Diamond” adds: “Do what no one can do but you.” Here the emphasis is on bringing benefits (purely individual for a particular person) to the maximum possible number of people.

In other words, the “diamond-gold rule of morality” states: “Act in such a way that your greatest abilities serve the greatest needs of others.” It is the uniqueness of a given individual (subject of ethical action) that acts as a universal criterion.

Thus, if the “golden rule of morality” is the transformation of a subject into an object (mental projection of oneself in the place of another person and the conscious refusal of those actions that one would not like oneself), the “diamond” canon, on the contrary, highlights precisely the irreducibility of the moral subject in question actions towards the target object, as well as its exclusivity and individuality.

“The Golden Rule of Morality” as an object of close attention of philosophers

Thomas Hobbes presented it as the basis of natural laws that play a decisive role in people's lives. It is simple enough for everyone to understand. This rule allows us to limit purely personal egoistic claims and thereby create a basis for the unity of all people within the state.

The English philosopher John Locke did not perceive the “golden rule of morality” as something given to a person from birth, but, on the contrary, pointed out that it is based on the natural equality of all people, and if they realize this through this canon, they will come to public virtue.

The German philosopher rather critically assessed the traditional formulations of the canon in question. In his opinion, the “golden rule of morality” in its explicit form does not make it possible to assess the degree of ethical development of an individual: a person can lower moral requirements for himself or take an egoistic position (I will not interfere with your life, do not interfere with me either) . It includes a person's desire in his moral behavior. However, it is precisely these desires, passions and dreams that often make a person hostage to his nature and completely cut off his morality - human freedom.

But still (the central concept of ethical teaching) acts as an exclusively philosophical clarification of the existing canon. According to Kant, the “golden rule of morality” states: “Act in such a way that the maxim of your will can always become the basis of universal legislation.” In this definition, the German philosopher is trying, so to speak, to close the loophole for even the smallest human egoism. He believed that human desires and passions should not replace the true ethical motives of an action. The individual is responsible for all possible consequences of his actions.

Two trends in human ethical self-determination from the point of view of modern European philosophers

The first presents a person as a social individual who is subject to generally accepted morality.

The second trend is focused on understanding a representative of the human race as an individual striving for a corresponding ideal (maturity, integrity, self-development, self-actualization, individualization, realization of the inner essence, etc.), and morality as a path to achieve internal self-improvement.

If in modern society we say to philosophers: “Formulate the “golden rule of morality”,” the answer will not be its standard formulation, but a deeper emphasis on the person considered in it, acting as the subject of ethical action.

The decline in moral standards in modern society

The life of society throughout the world has become significantly impoverished since the beginning of the 20th century. This is due to the dominant position today of economic problems and related ideological and political issues (almost all people’s actions are aimed at accumulating primarily material wealth).

In the constant race for wealth, man neglected spirituality, stopped thinking about internal self-improvement, and began to ignore the ethical side of his actions. This trend has been evident since the end of the 19th century. Even F. M. Dostoevsky wrote about the unbridled thirst for money that overwhelmed the people of that era (more than a century ago) to the point of stupor (“The Idiot”).

Most people have forgotten, and many did not even know, what the “golden rule of morality” says.

The result of the processes currently taking place may be stagnation in the development of civilization or even evolution will come to a dead end.

A significant role in the fading morality of society regarding Russia and Germany was played by the corresponding ideologies that arose in all its layers during the time the Bolsheviks and Nazis came to power, respectively.

The low ethical level of humanity, as a rule, is clearly recorded at critical moments in history (revolutions, civil and interstate wars, instability of the state order, etc.). An example is the blatant violations of moral norms in Russia: during the civil war (1918-1921), during the Second World War (1939-1945), during the era of Stalinist industrialization (20-30s) and our days in the form of an “epidemic” of terrorist attacks. All these events led to one deplorable result - the death of a large number of innocent people.

Moral aspects are most often not taken into account in the process of solving government issues: during economic, social, agricultural and industrial reforms (usually the result is negative environmental consequences).

The unfavorable current situation in our country in almost all areas of people's lives is a direct consequence of government miscalculations regarding the existing ethical level of society at the time of the next government decision.

Recent years have been marked by a deterioration in the criminal situation in our country: the number of contract and especially cruel murders, bullying, theft, rape, bribery, vandalism, etc. has increased. All this most often goes unpunished, as the percentage of crimes solved has decreased.

A curious example of the disorder and chaos that currently reigns in our country is a sensational story that occurred in 1996: two people were detained for committing an act of theft from the Russian Government House of a cardboard box containing half a million US dollars. Soon an official statement was received that the owner of the money did not show up, and therefore this criminal case was closed and the investigation was terminated. The criminals instantly became “benefactors of the state”, as it turns out that they found a “treasure”, and the seized money was sent to the state treasury.

It is clear to everyone that the owner of the money acquired it dishonestly, otherwise he would have immediately laid claim to it. In this case, the prosecutor's office should have conducted an investigation to determine the source of the appearance of this box with a very significant amount of money. Officials are tactfully keeping silent about why this did not happen. It remains to be assumed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the courts and the prosecutor’s office cannot cope with the current criminal situation in the country. And the reason for this is, apparently, the corruption of a large number of government officials.

"Golden Rule of Ethics"

This rule has probably existed for as long as humanity itself.

It calls us to do to others as we would like to be treated to us, and not to do to anyone what we do not wish to ourselves.This rule was mentioned at different times and eras in various religious teachings - in Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and other religions.The Christian law of love for one's neighbor is based precisely on this rule.Usually the Golden Rule of Ethics is perceived solely as a desire to do good and nothing more. If you do something useful for someone, great, well done. You won't do anything either. If you treat someone badly, well, that’s what happened. And we rarely think about the fact that all actions have their consequences. We get offended or angry when they treat us very badly - if they deceive us, they say all sorts of nasty things about us behind our back, they steal something from us or they accuse us unfairly.

The "Golden Rule" in different religions is a teaching given to man

God . Only in the implementation of this rule does he see a way to harmonize relations between people who differ in their moral qualities, life attitudes, abilities, and cultural level.

"Golden Rule"constitutes a universal human world value, without which it is doomed to extinction. This is confirmed by the entire history of the development of human society, when empires fell that trampled on this rule. Its formation as a moral value and ideal of each individual is the main task of ethical education.

Key words: “golden rule of ethics”

Ethics -1) philosophical teaching about morality, morality, rules of behavior;

2) a set of norms of behavior, morality, some social group, profession, etc.

Ethics is a science that studies the actions and relationships between people

Ethics is a set of rules by which people should live.

Etiquette From fr. Etiquette - list of rules

Etiquette is a set of rules regulating the external manifestation of attitudes towards people. The rules of etiquette are largely determined by the specific conditions in which interpersonal communication occurs.For example: school etiquette, diplomatic etiquette.

Words of Christ from the Gospel:

Judge not, lest ye be judged, for with the same judgment ye judge, so shall ye be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not feel the plank in your own eye? Hypocrite! First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see how to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.So in everything, as you want people to do to you, do so to them.. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Farewell, etc. “The speck in your brother’s eye” isother people's bad actions
"The beam is in your eye" isour bad deeds
A hypocrite is a person who judges others, not

Noticing his own mistakes, he tells lies

To be merciful meansbe able to forgive others

and you will be forgiven.

One day people brought to Christ a woman who, according to the laws of that time, should have been stoned to death. Christ did not call people to break this law. He simply said, “Let him of you who has not sinned himself cast the first stone.” People thought about it, everyone remembered something different. And they quietly parted ways.

SINNER

She stood and turned pale,

I didn’t dare look at people.

The crowd judged and seethed,

And the judgment of those people was terrible.

At the actual crime scene

She is taken, convicted,

And now, here are hands and stones,

And here is the criminal wife.

“Say, Explainer of the Law,

What to do with this sinner?

Our teacher appointed her death

And Moses the Seer of God."

And on the ground with his finger He wrote:

“He who is sinless himself, let him strike!”

And having written, He waited a long time,

Whose first stone will fly?

From those letters splashed light and flame,

And everyone, having recognized himself,

Who hid the shame, who threw the stone,

And silently scatter to their homes.

Remembering your own mistakes and shortcomings helps protect yourself from condemnation.

Game: “What am I?”

(Children have drawings of men and colored pencils)

I will call it a quality of character. If you think you have it, draw a red circle on the person’s body; if not, draw a green circle.

Kind, generous, hardworking, neat, fair, brave, cheerful, helpful, obedient, responsible, affectionate, thrifty, diligent, attentive, conscientious, generous.

What did you get? Don’t be alarmed that your personality is so colorful; every person has both good and bad traits. We must strive to ensure that your little man has more red circles.

Working with the concept of “non-judgment”.

Read the text. Comment on the behavior of the old man who took the leaky basket.

In the Egyptian monastery where Elder Moses lived (this is not the prophet Moses, but a Christian ascetic who lived one and a half thousand years after the prophet), one of the monks drank wine. The monks asked Moses to severely reprimand the culprit. Moses was silent. Then he took the holey basket, filled it with sand, hung the basket on his back and went. Sand fell through the cracks behind him. The elder answered the perplexed monks: these are my sins that are pouring down behind me, but I do not see them, because I am going to judge the sins of others.

Non-judgment - this is the distinction between the assessment of an action and the assessment of the person himself.

Subject. "The Golden Rule of Ethics."

Basic

concepts

Methodology, types

works

Methods and forms of control, reflection

The golden rule of ethics. Non-judgment.

Conversation, commented reading, oral history on the topic, creative tasks, participation in educational dialogue, work with illustrative material.

Name the “golden rule of ethics.”

Why is it “golden”?

Formulate your own rules.

Teacher: Hello!

Today in the lesson you will get acquainted with the great spiritual heritage that, for many centuries, one generation of our compatriots passed on to another. You will learn about the moral ideals and moral standards of our ancestors.
Now the teams will have to test their knowledge of the subject, pass tests at 4 stations as quickly and without errors. Having completed the task at each station, the team receives a fragment of the password. By piecing together the password, the team has the opportunity to learn the main rule of Christian ethics.

Captains receive “Route Sheets”! ()

At my command, we begin our route. Once! Two! Three!

II. Practical work at stations

Station 1 "Morality".

Test (Choosing the correct answer)

1: Choose the person’s action that can be called moral:

A) Don’t pay attention to other people’s troubles and sorrows.

B) Help people who need it.

C) Help people, hoping to receive a reward.

2. If one of your friends is gossiping, then you need to:

A) Condemn those who condemn;

B) Tell the guys that judging others is not good, move the conversation to another topic;

C) Take part in the discussion of other people's shortcomings.

3. Finish the sentence. For people to love us, we must...

A) Flatter them;

B) Demand love;

C) Love them.

4. Finish the sentence. A person can be called kind if:

A) He does good things to become popular;

B) He does good in order to receive a reward in return;

C) He does good according to the dictates of his heart.

5. Who points out to a person his bad thoughts and actions?

A) Policeman.

B) Comrades.

B) Conscience.

6. Finish the sentence. A moral person helps...

A) Those who helped him;

B) For those who can pay for the assistance provided:

C) To those who need help, even if they do you harm.

Well done! Mark in the Route Sheet. Handing over a password fragment

Conclusion. We learned that a moral person can:

A) help people who need it, even if they do you harm;

B) don't judge

B) love.

We have found out what we mean by the concept of morality or ethics.

Station 2 Christian Ethics

And now we have to answer the question:

What is Christian ethics? How is it different from secular ethics?

-How to protect yourself from judging others?

Solve the crossword puzzle and you will find out what Jesus Christ commanded his disciples to have so that they could be distinguished from other people.

1. That which must be denounced and hated. (Evil)

2. Those who are responsible for the evil committed on earth. (People)

3. What the Lord told the man to take out of his own eye in order to see how to take out the speck from his brother’s eye. (Log)

4. Distinguishing between the assessment of an action and the assessment of the person himself. (Non-judgment)

5. Someone who needs to be loved in any circumstances. (Human)

6. What you should not do to avoid being judged. (Judge)

Love. Record your conclusion on the route sheet. Handing over a password fragment.

What is special about Christian love? This booklet will help you answer this question. Unfold it. Let's read the first letter to the Corinthians of the Holy Apostle Paul, chapter 13

Love is patient, merciful, love does not envy, love is not arrogant, is not proud, is not rude, does not seek its own, is not irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Station 3 Parable.(Movie)

The elder led the disciples out into the cold and silently stood in front of them.
Five minutes passed, ten... The elder continued to remain silent.
The disciples shivered, shifted from foot to foot, and looked at the elder.
He remained silent. They turned blue from the cold, shivered, and finally, when their patience reached its limit, the elder spoke.
He said, “You are cold. It is because you are standing apart.
Get closer to give each other your warmth.
This is the essence of Christian love.”

Discussion: What is the basis of Christian love?

A) kindness

B ) love for neighbor

B) compassion

Record your conclusion on the route sheet. Handing over a password fragment.

And it’s in vain to ask for a lot,
I really only need one thing.
I ask God for love
Without caring about the needs of others.

Vera Sergeevna Kushnir

Conclusion: the main content of Christian teaching is expressed by the words of the law:

"Love your neighbor as yourself"

Name the “golden rule of ethics.” Why is it “golden”?

How to protect yourself from judging others? Formulate your own rules.

Station 4 Cognition

Record your conclusion on the route sheet. Handing over a password fragment

III. Summarizing

1Put the password together by explaining what it means (The Golden Rule of Christian Ethics)
Mark in the Route Sheet. Group leaders read the golden rule of morality.
“So in everything you want people to do to you, do so to them” (Matthew 7:12)

Well done!

D.Z Give examples of mercy and compassion from your life and the lives of your loved ones.

"So, in everything like people acted like this

do likewise to them" want to be with you

The basis of a person’s relationships with other people, with society as a whole, is the golden rule of behavior: “ don't do to others what you wouldn't want them to do to you " (negative wording) and " treat others as you would like them to treat you "(positive wording). Anyone who violates the golden rule of behavior cannot count on being treated kindly. At best, he will not be noticed; at worst, they will treat him on the principle of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

The golden rule has been known to people since time immemorial. It is mentioned in one of the oldest written monuments - the ancient Babylonian legend about Akihara. For Confucius (VI-V centuries BC) it is the basis of behavior. In the ancient Indian “Mahabharata” (5th century BC) it appears as the norm of norms.

U Kant the golden rule appears under the name categorical imperative. On the one hand, he elevated it to the significance of the main principle of human behavior, on the other hand, he humiliated it, calling its generally accepted formulations trivial and limited. The categorical imperative is the golden rule transformed in the spirit of rigorism and deontology: “act in such a way that the maxim of your action can become a universal law.” By reformulating the rule as a categorical imperative, Kant largely stripped it of what makes it golden, namely, the individual component, thereby violating the measure, i.e., tipping the scales in favor supra-individual,- general, universal.

The superficiality of Kant's understanding of the golden rule is manifested, in particular, in the fact that he did not see in it base duty, arguing that it allegedly does not formulate duties towards others. Doesn't the golden rule indicate, for example, debt to parents? Doesn't it say that if you want your children to treat you appropriately, then you yourself must treat your parents in the same appropriate way? Or: if you want your parents to treat you well, then you yourself must treat them well. Etc. This understanding of the golden rule by Kant is due to his focus on the supra-individual. In his categorical imperative, the basis of duty is universal law. With this, Kant puts society above the individual. The golden rule points to a specific person as the basis of debt. And that's fair because No foundations stronger than man himself for myself . Duty involves knowing yourself and others. Who does a person know better: himself or others? Of course, myself. Duty implies respect and care. Who does a person respect more and care about more: himself or others? Of course about myself. It `s naturally. The basis of debt is not in some transcendental heights, but in a specific living person with all his advantages and disadvantages. Kant himself, in solidarity with the biblical commandment to love his neighbor as himself, emphasized that a person who does not love himself cannot love another, since such a person can pharisaically justify his hatred of another by his self-denial.

In Russian philosophy, he wrote about the problems associated with the golden rule V.S. Soloviev. Following Schopenhauer, he convincingly showed the importance of emotions and the psyche as the individual-intimate basis of the golden rule. If people are guided by this rule unconsciously, then this is largely due to feelings of conscience and compassion. Conscience is primarily responsible for implementing the negative component of the golden rule. Compassion - positive. Conscience says: do not do to others what you do not wish for yourself, that is, do not do evil. Compassion commands us to help those who suffer, to treat them as you would like them to treat you in a similar situation.

The intimate psychological “mechanisms” that implement the golden rule indicate that it is by no means some kind of abstract soulless norm, that it is deeply individualized, psychological, and has not only “ antenna" as a tradition generally accepted rules of conduct, but also “ grounded", is rooted in the very depths of human nature.

The Golden Rule is the main principle of human coexistence

In its positive form the rule states:

do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

In negative:

Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want them to do to you.

The Golden Rule gives a holistic and concentrated idea of morality and captures the main thing in it: attitude to to others as to yourself. It establishes, fixes, defines measure human in man, morally equalizes people and likens them to each other.

Moral equalization - quantitative procedure, moral assimilation - high quality procedure. Together we have measured process: the golden rule suggests a person measure your actions with the actions of others, to measure the actions of others by your own standard and, conversely, to measure your actions by someone else’s standard; in a word, it offers to find general measure their own and others’ actions and act in accordance with this general measure.

In its negative form, the golden rule states minimally low prohibits doing evil , in other words, establishes minimum

In its positive form it establishes as high as possible the bar of a person’s moral attitude towards other people, encourages good , good deeds, in other words, determines maximum moral requirements for human behavior.

Thus, the golden rule covers the entire range of moral actions and serves as the basis for distinguishing and defining moral categories of good And evil.

It performs the same function in relation to the category debt . Let's look at this rule from the side it is commensurates your own and others' actions. IN foundation of this commensurate, i.e. initially lies the following. People, society gave me life, made me a person, that is, they treated me more or less well, the way I I would like to for others to do to me. Accordingly I act or must to deal with them (parents, people, society), in a particular case, must repay them in kind, i.e. with my behavior Not must worsen-reduce the quality-quantity of life (given to me and others), moreover, as much as possible must take care of improving and increasing the quality and quantity of life (mine and others, society as a whole). This is the general understanding of duty. It is naturally divided into particular types depending on who we mean by “others.” If the “others” are parents, then this is a duty to parents.

If morality regulates people’s relationships, ensures the health of society within the framework of the optimal norm and the nearest deviations from it, then right regulates people's relationships, ensures the health of society in a broader sense - prevention, prevention or treatment pathological deviations from normal health, called delinquencies and/or crimes. What are they for the life and health of an individual? illnesses, topics for the life and health of society are offenses And crimes. When there are a lot of offenses and crimes in a society, then it is a sick society in the legal sense. There is even less to say about the health of society in a moral sense.

The golden rule establishes a connection-correspondence between the life-health of an individual and the life-health of society. It asserts that the life and health of society are based on the life and health of people, that morality is not valuable in itself, but has its root in the life and health of a particular person, is, so to speak, natural continuation this life-health. Moral health, on the one hand, is part of the health of society or a collection of people (team, family...), on the other hand, it is an integral part of a person’s individual health. The right is also not valuable in itself. It is a natural extension of morality. In essence, like morality, it is based on the golden rule. I wrote about this. The old political-legal rule says approximately the same thing: “Everyone is obliged to obey only the law to which he himself has given his consent.” This rule may be somewhat categorical, but it is essentially true, since it is based on the golden rule. In the deepest sense right is , I repeat, mutual admission and mutual restriction of freedom . From the mutual assumption of freedom flow various human rights. From the mutual restriction of freedom flow no less diverse human responsibilities.

The golden rule also has the property that it self-sufficient, looped, has a basis in itself. It, in particular, connects “I want” and “need”, the randomness of “I want” and the necessity of “need”. This connection results in what I call freedom. Golden Rule - freedom formula . Combining in the golden rule, “I want” and “need” mutually allow and limit each other, establish a measure, measures they eat each other.

By combining “want” and “need”, the golden rule also removes the ethical dilemma happiness and ethics debt. It requires from a person only what he himself wants in relation to yourself. No wonder the rule is called golden.

They may ask: if the golden rule is so good, then why do people break it, why do they do evil, do not fulfill their duty? The situation here is approximately the same as in the case of health and illness. The latter do not devalue health at all. On the contrary, a sick person strives to become healthy again. So it is with the golden rule. Breaking a rule does not invalidate it. In the overall balance of human actions, actions based on it certainly outweigh actions that violate it. Otherwise, we would be dealing with a sick, dying society.

The basis of a person’s relationships with other people, with society as a whole, is the golden rule of behavior: “ don't do to others what you wouldn't want them to do to you " (negative wording) and " treat others as you would like them to treat you "(positive wording). Anyone who violates the golden rule of behavior cannot count on being treated kindly. At best, he will not be noticed; at worst, they will treat him on the principle of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

The Golden Rule is attributed to two of the seven Greek sages - Pittacus and Thales. It can be found in Homer's Odyssey, in Herodotus's History, and in the Bible. In the latter it is mentioned at least three times: in the book of Tobit (4.15), in the Gospel of Luke (6.31) and in the Gospel of Matthew (7.12). The so-called biblical commandments - do not kill, do not steal, do not commit adultery, etc. - are nothing more than partial and truncated expressions of the golden rule. The same can be said about the commandment “thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18. Gospel of Matthew 22:39).

In modern times, T. Hobbes, D. Locke, H. Tommasius, I.G. wrote about the golden rule. Herder...

U Kant the golden rule appears under the name categorical imperative. On the one hand, he elevated it (albeit in a transformed form) to the significance of the main principle of human behavior, on the other hand, he humiliated it, calling its generally accepted formulations trivial and limited. The categorical imperative is the golden rule transformed in the spirit of rigorism and deontology (ethics of duty): “act so that the maxim of your action can become a universal law.” By reformulating the rule as a categorical imperative, Kant largely stripped it of what makes it golden, namely, the individual component, thereby violating the measure, i.e., tipping the scales in favor supra-individual,- general, universal. (The name itself is truly terrifying: an imperative, and even a categorical one! An imperative is a command, a demand, an obligation, an order, a law! Only iron necessity and not a drop of chance. Only one must and not a drop of will.)

The superficiality of Kant's understanding of the golden rule is manifested, in particular, in the fact that he did not see in it base duty, arguing that it allegedly does not formulate duties towards others. Doesn't the golden rule indicate, for example, debt to parents? Doesn't it say that if you want your children to treat you appropriately, then you yourself must treat your parents in the same appropriate way? Or: if you want your parents to treat you well, then you yourself must treat them well. Etc. This understanding of the golden rule by Kant is due to his focus on the supra-individual. In his categorical imperative, the basis of duty is universal law. With this, Kant puts society above the individual. The golden rule points to a specific person as the basis of debt. And that's fair because there is no stronger foundation than a person for himself . Duty involves knowing yourself and others. Who does a person know better: himself or others? Of course, myself. Duty implies respect and care. Who does a person respect more and care about more: himself or others? Of course about myself. It `s naturally. The basis of debt is not in some transcendental heights, but in a specific living person with all his advantages and disadvantages. Kant himself, in solidarity with the biblical commandment to love his neighbor as himself, emphasized that a person who does not love himself cannot love another, since such a person can pharisaically justify his hatred of another by his self-denial.

In Russian philosophy, he wrote about the problems associated with the golden rule V.S. Soloviev. Following Schopenhauer, he convincingly showed the importance of emotions and the psyche as the individual-intimate basis of the golden rule. If people are guided by this rule unconsciously, then this is largely due to feelings of conscience and compassion. Conscience is primarily responsible for implementing the negative component of the golden rule. Compassion - positive. Conscience says: do not do to others what you do not wish for yourself, that is, do not do evil. Compassion commands us to help those who suffer, to treat them as you would like them to treat you in a similar situation.

V.S. Soloviev, however, was too carried away by the passive side of the golden rule. The latter is based not only on feelings of pity and compassion, but also on feelings of love, pleasure and simply curiosity, interest (from one person to another). In addition, he called the golden rule the principle altruism and this does not seem to be entirely true. The word "altruism" comes from alter, another and in the principle he denotes the emphasis is naturally placed on friend, others. Altruism is self-sacrifice, selflessness. In the golden rule, the emphasis is on the ego, on the given person. After all, the golden rule “dances” from him, like from a stove. The latter “does not turn away” from I to the side another , but “trying” to coordinate positions I And another , find the common denominator, the common measure between them. The golden rule is a measure, a norm, because it establishes a certain balance of interests.