Ethics and the Golden Rule

256 Pages·2013·2.588 MB·English

by  Harry J. Gensler

ETHICS AND
THE GOLDEN RULE
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HARRY J. GENSLER
Half cover
i
Ethics and
the Golden
Rule

It is commonly accepted that the golden rule – most often formulated as “do
unto others as you would have them do unto you” – is a unifying element
between many diverse religious traditions, both Eastern and Western. Its
influence also extends beyond such traditions, since many non-religious
individuals hold up the golden rule as central to their lives.
Yet, while it is extraordinarily important and widespread, the golden rule is
often dismissed by scholars as a vague proverb that quickly leads to absurdities
when one attempts to formulate it in clear terms. In this book, Harry J. Gensler
defends the golden rule and addresses all of the major philosophic objections,
pointing out several common misunderstanding and misapplications. Gensler
first discusses golden-rule reasoning and how to avoid the main pitfalls. He
then relates the golden rule to world religions and history, and to areas like
moral education, egoism, evolution, society, racism, business, and medicine.
The book ends with a discussion of theoretical issues (like whether all morality
reduces to the golden rule, which the author argues against).
Ethics and the Golden Rule offers two introductory chapters, the first is
simpler and the second more technical; a reader may start with either or both.
One can then read any combination of further chapters, in any order, depend-
ing on one’s interests; but Chapters 13 and 14 are technical and assume one has
read Chapter 2. This is “a golden-rule book for everyone,” accessible to a wide
readership.

Harry J. Gensler, S.J., an American philosopher who has published twelve
books on ethics and logic, has had a lifetime passion for the golden rule. His
Web site http://www.harryhiker.com has more information on him.
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ii ETHICS AND THE GOLDEN RULE

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CONTENTS iii

Ethhics and

thee Golden

Rule

Harrry J. Gensler
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iv ETHICS AND THE GOLDEN RULE

First published 2013
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Simultaneously published in the UK
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

© 2013 Harry J. Gensler

The right of Harry J. Gensler to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized
in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to
infringe.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gensler, Harry J., 1945–
Ethics and the golden rule / By Harry J. Gensler.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Golden rule. 2. Religious ethics. I. Title.
BJ1188.G45 2013
170—dc23
2013000419

ISBN: 978-0-415-80686-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-80687-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-15437-3 (ebk)

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CONTENTS v

Contents
Preface vii
Part 1: Golden Rule Reasoning
Chapter 1: Simpler Introduction 1
1.1 A simple idea? 1.6 Third-parties GR fallacy
1.2 Literal GR fallacy 1.7 Easy GR fallacy
1.3 Kita, a wise GR monkey 1.8 Consistency requires GR
1.4 Soft GR fallacy 1.9 Further chapters
1.5 Doormat GR fallacy
Chapter 2: Harder Introduction 9
2.1 Gold or garbage? 2.2 Applying GR wisely: Kita
2.1a Literal GR 2.3 Further GRs and relatives
2.1b Same-situation clause 2.4 GR fallacies
2.1c The GR question 2.5 Religions and philosophies
2.1d GR requires consistency 2.6 The rest of this book
2.1e Gold, not garbage 2.7 Technical appendix
Part 2: Religion and History
Chapter 3: Many Religions and Cultures 34
3.1 Abrahamic religions 3.2c Confucianism
3.1a Judaism 3.2d Taoism
3.1b Christianity 3.2e Other religions
3.1c Islam 3.2f Atheism
3.1d Other Abrahamic religions 3.3 Interfaith GR activists
3.2 Non-Abrahamic religions 3.4 Questions
3.2a Hinduism 3.5 Composite GR message
3.2b Buddhism
Chapter 4: A Socratic Dialogue 67
4.1 A consistency norm 4.3 Science and religion
4.2 Morality and religion 4.4 The problem of evil
Chapter 5: A GR Chronology 76

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vi ETHICS AND THE GOLDEN RULE
Part 3: Practice
Chapter 6: Moral Education 108
6.1 Content and method 6.3 Practical hints
6.2 Kohlberg’s moral stages 6.4 Why not more successful
Chapter 7: Egoism, Hobbes, Darwin 125
7.1 Foolish or impossible 7.3 GR promotes self-interest
7.2 Hobbes and social contracts 7.4 Darwin and evolution
Chapter 8: Racism and Other Groupisms 136
8.1 Groupist GR objections 8.4 Groupist actions
8.2 Extreme groupist principles 8.5 History, slavery, and GR
8.3 Groupist arguments
Chapter 9: Applied Ethics 152
9.1 Applied ethics courses 9.4 Ethics of discussion
9.2 Business ethics 9.5 GR’s scope
9.3 Medical ethics 9.6 Some other areas
Part 4: Theory
Chapter 10: Positive and Negative GRs 163
10.1 Positive GR is better 10.4 Both are equivalent
10.2 Both are complementary 10.5 Defending the positive GR
10.3 Negative GR is better 10.6 Negative traditions?
Chapter 11: More Questions 172
11.1 Summary of morality 11.3 Metals
11.2 Role reversals
Chapter 12: Many Philosophies 186
12.1 Metaethics 12.2 Normative ethics
Chapter 13: Hare and Carson 191
13.1 Hare 13.2 Carson
Chapter 14: More Objections 199
14.1 Platinum 14.3d Assumes moral norms
14.2 Three classic objections 14.3e Contradictions
14.3 Long objections 14.3f Game theory
14.3a Competition 14.3g Masochists
14.3b Over or under demanding 14.4 Short objections
14.3c Kant’s footnote
Bibliography 221
Index 235

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MORE OBJECTIONS vii
Preface
The golden rule (GR) says “Treat others as you want to be treated.” GR is a
global standard – endorsed by nearly every religion and culture – important for
families and professionals across the planet for many centuries – and a key part
of a growing global-ethics movement. But many academics see GR as vague
and riddled with difficulties.
This book defends the golden rule. It first talks about GR reasoning and how
to avoid the main pitfalls. Then it relates GR to world religions and history, and
then to areas like moral education, egoism, evolution, society, racism, business,
and medicine. It ends with theoretical issues (like whether all morality reduces
to GR: I say no). This book is interdisciplinary but grounded in philosophy.
Two introductory chapters deal with GR reasoning, including misunder-
standings and misapplications. Chapter 1 is simpler and Chapter 2 more techni-
cal; start by reading either or both. Then read any combination of further
chapters, in any order, depending on your interests; but Chapters 13 and 14 are
technical and assume Chapter 2. This is “a GR book for everyone,” accessible to
a wide readership.
I intend this book for various groups of readers. First are college students in
ethics courses (moral philosophy/theology). How can this book serve them?
Students studying ethics, while searching for ideas to help them live better
lives, are often relativistic about values. GR addresses both concerns – since GR
is a very practical tool for moral living and a global norm that can be defended
rationally. In addition, students will enjoy the book’s clear and concise writing,
interesting examples, and boxes for key ideas. And the wide range of topics will
appeal to the special interests of individual students.
Teachers should first assign Chapter 1 or 2 or both, depending on the course
level. Then they can assign any combination of other chapters, in any order,
depending on which topics they want to cover. The book is ideal for having
students write papers that connect GR with special interests (e.g., education,
business, biology, activism, or religion). Use the index to find parts of the book
that relate to specific areas, and then see which bibliography items are men-
tioned for further reading. Or explore my GR Web page. Or search the Web for
“Golden Rule” followed by other terms (but be forewarned that you’ll find
both wisdom and foolishness).
Teachers can use this book as their sole text or as one of several texts –
perhaps also using books on ethical theory, history of ethics, applied ethics,
religious ethics, or world religions. Some might pair this present book with
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viii ETHICS AND THE GOLDEN RULE
my Ethics: A Contemporary Introduction (2011), which gives a simple intro-
duction to some main issues of contemporary moral philosophy.
But again, this is “a GR book for everyone,” not just students, but also general
readers and specialists in various areas. If you skim the book, or its index or
bibliography, you’ll see that people are interested in GR from many angles –
such as activism (including peace, discrimination, and economic justice); applied
ethics (including business and medicine); biology (especially evolution); cul-
tural and historical studies (Chinese, African, American, etc., or intercultural);
ecology; ethical theory; law and politics; literature; moral education; psychol-
ogy and sociology; and religious ethics and scriptural studies (Christian, Jewish,
Muslim, Buddhist, etc., or interfaith). GR ties much together.
Readers should check out my http://www.harryhiker.com/gr Web page on
the golden rule. This page, which is available in many languages, has much
useful information on GR – including a short essay, several videos, a list of
related books, tools for searching the Web for various GR topics, GR links, GR
stories, and how to get GR shirts and other items.
I thank all who somehow contributed to this book. Particularly notable are Jeff
Wattles (a GR expert whom I’ve collaborated with for two decades and who
made suggestions after reading the whole text), Paul McKenna (a GR activist
with whom I’ve often discussed GR), Tom Carson (a distinguished ethicist who
has supported this project), T. Frank Kennedy and the Jesuit Institute of Boston
College (for funding me for a year during which my chief task was to reflect on
earth’s greatest moral principle), Andy Beck (my Routledge editor who pushed
me to make this the best book it could be), and my sister Carol Ann Tuttle
(who deserves much of the credit if any of this is readable by a wider audience).
These are all wonderful people. Many others, far too many to mention here,
contributed in some way.
I became a GR junkie in 1968, after hearing a talk by the Oxford philosopher
R.M. Hare. The book that you’re holding developed out of forty-five years of
reflection on the golden rule. I hope that it leads to a better understanding of
earth’s most important moral idea.

Harry J. Gensler
http://www.harryhiker.com

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SIMPLER INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER 1
Simpler Introduction
There are two introductory chapters: this one is simpler,
while Chapter 2 is longer and more technical. Read either or both.
Then read any combination of further chapters, in any order; but
Chapters 13 and 14 are technical and assume Chapter 2.
The golden rule (GR) says “Treat others as you want to be treated.” The idea
is global. It’s common to all major world religions; Confucius, Hillel, Jesus,
and many others used it to sum up how to live. For centuries across the planet,
it’s been important in families and professions, and in thinkers and cultures,
both religious and non-religious. Today it’s part of a growing global-ethics
movement.
GR touches many areas of life. Later we’ll connect it to world religions, his-
tory, moral education, egoism, evolution, society, racism, business, medicine,
and so on. But first we’ll consider how GR reasoning works.
1.1 A simple idea?
I’ll start with a story (Grimm Brothers 1812). There once was a grandpa who
lived with his family. As Grandpa grew older, he began to slobber and spill his
food. So the family had him eat alone. When he dropped his bowl and broke it,
they scolded him and got him a cheap wooden bowl. Grandpa was so unhappy.
Now one day the young grandson was working with wood. “What are you
doing?” Mom and Dad asked. “I’m making a wooden bowl,” he said, “for when
you two get old and must eat alone.” Mom and Dad then looked sad and
realized how they were mistreating Grandpa. So they decided to keep quiet
when he spills his food and to let him eat with the family.
The heart of GR is switching places. You step into another’s shoes. What
you do to Grandpa, you imagine being done to you. You ask, “Am I willing
that if I were in the same situation then I be treated that same way?”
GR seems simple. We want others to tell us the truth and not steal from us,
so this is how we treat them. But GR’s loose wording can be confusing to apply
and can give strange results. We need to understand GR more clearly.
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