Is the Golden Rule the heart of morality?

Top voices on religion: Hillel the Elder, Jesus of Nazareth, Confucius, Muhammad, Karen Armstrong and 7 others.

12 dated claims from 12 people · 3 views · most recent c. 2008

The views

Our reading of what a group of claims have in common, one level above a korrent: a korrent is our reading of what somebody said, a view is our reading of what several korrents share. The claims are printed under it, so the sentence can be checked against them.

Nobody is filed under a view — claims are. A person is named here because a dated claim of theirs sits under it, and somebody whose claims sit under two views appears under both.

Treating others as you would be treated is the core of faith and of law
Karen Armstrong John Stuart Mill Thomas Hobbes Muhammad Jesus of Nazareth Hillel the Elder Confucius
The rule is owed beyond your own people, to every creature and to those beneath you
Olaudah Equiano Seneca Gautama Buddha Mahavira
It cannot be the foundation, because it leaves out duties to yourself and to those in need
Immanuel Kant

A viewour reading

Treating others as you would be treated is the core of faith and of law

7 claims filed here, newest first — each in the words of whoever said it.

Every major tradition puts the Golden Rule at its core

Karen Armstrong c. 2008 British writer on religion (born 1944) And in particular, every single one of the major world traditions has highlighted -- has said -- and put at the core of their tradition what's become known as the Golden Rule. My wish: The Charter for Compassion (TED2008)ted.com · c. 2008 All korrents from this piece

Their wordsAnd in particular, every single one of the major world traditions has highlighted -- has said -- and put at the core of their tradition what's become known as the Golden Rule.

↗My wish: The Charter for Compassion (TED2008)ted.com
c. 2008

Show all 7 claims

The golden rule of Jesus is the complete spirit of utilitarian ethics

John Stuart Mill c. 1861 Philosopher (1806 to 1873), a utilitarian and liberal In the golden rule of Jesus of Nazareth, we read the complete spirit of the ethics of utility. To do as one would be done by, and to love one's neighbour as oneself, constitute the ideal perfection of utilitarian morality. Utilitarianism (1861; 7th edition, 1879)gutenberg.org · c. 1861 All korrents from this piece

Their wordsIn the golden rule of Jesus of Nazareth, we read the complete spirit of the ethics of utility. To do as one would be done by, and to love one's neighbour as oneself, constitute the ideal perfection of utilitarian morality.

↗Utilitarianism (1861; 7th edition, 1879)gutenberg.org
c. 1861

The laws of nature need no proclaiming: they are one sentence the whole world approves, do not do to another what you would think unreasonable done to you

Thomas Hobbes c. 1651 English philosopher (1588 to 1679), born in Malmesbury The Lawes of Nature therefore need not any publishing, nor Proclamation; as being contained in this one Sentence, approved by all the world, “Do not that to another, which thou thinkest unreasonable to be done by another to thy selfe.” Leviathan (1651)gutenberg.org · c. 1651 All korrents from this piece

Their wordsThe Lawes of Nature therefore need not any publishing, nor Proclamation; as being contained in this one Sentence, approved by all the world, “Do not that to another, which thou thinkest unreasonable to be done by another to thy selfe.”

↗Leviathan (1651)gutenberg.org
c. 1651

No one has faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself

Muhammad c. 570–632 CE Arab religious, military and political leader (c By him in whose hand is my life! no servant believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. Selections from Muhammadan Traditions (Mishkat al-Masabih), as reported by Anas (tr. William Goldsack, 1923)en.wikisource.org · c. 570–632 CE All korrents from this piece

Their wordsBy him in whose hand is my life! no servant believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.

↗Selections from Muhammadan Traditions (Mishkat al-Masabih), as reported by Anas (tr. William Goldsack, 1923)en.wikisource.org
c. 570–632 CE

Do to others whatever you would have them do to you: this is the law and the prophets

Jesus of Nazareth c. 6 BCE–33 CE Jewish preacher and religious leader in the Roman province… Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. The Gospel of Matthew, as recorded by the evangelist (King James Version, 1611)gutenberg.org · c. 6 BCE–33 CE All korrents from this piece

Their wordsTherefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

↗The Gospel of Matthew, as recorded by the evangelist (King James Version, 1611)gutenberg.org
c. 6 BCE–33 CE

Do not do to others what is hateful to you: that is the whole law, and the rest is commentary

Hillel the Elder c. 30 BCE–10 CE Jewish sage and teacher in Jerusalem What is hateful to thee, do not unto thy fellow; this is the whole law. All the rest is a commentary to this law; go and learn it. Babylonian Talmud, Tract Sabbath, as recorded by the rabbis (tr. Michael L. Rodkinson, 1896)en.wikisource.org · c. 30 BCE–10 CE All korrents from this piece

Their wordsWhat is hateful to thee, do not unto thy fellow; this is the whole law. All the rest is a commentary to this law; go and learn it.

↗Babylonian Talmud, Tract Sabbath, as recorded by the rabbis (tr. Michael L. Rodkinson, 1896)en.wikisource.org
c. 30 BCE–10 CE

Reciprocity can serve as a rule for life: do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself

Confucius c. 551–479 BCE Chinese teacher and thinker (traditionally dated 551 to 479 BCE) Is not RECIPROCITY such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others. The Analects, as recorded by his disciples (tr. James Legge, 1861)gutenberg.org · c. 551–479 BCE All korrents from this piece

Their wordsIs not RECIPROCITY such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.

↗The Analects, as recorded by his disciples (tr. James Legge, 1861)gutenberg.org
c. 551–479 BCE

A viewour reading

The rule is owed beyond your own people, to every creature and to those beneath you

4 claims filed here, newest first — each in the words of whoever said it.

Christians who sell enslaved families apart betray their own rule to do unto others as they would be done by

Olaudah Equiano 24 Mar 1789 Writer and abolitionist (c O, ye nominal Christians! might not an African ask you, learned you this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you? Is it not enough that we are torn from our country and friends to toil for your luxury and lust of gain? The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (1789)gutenberg.org · 24 Mar 1789 All korrents from this piece

Their wordsO, ye nominal Christians! might not an African ask you, learned you this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you? Is it not enough that we are torn from our country and friends to toil for your luxury and lust of gain?

↗The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (1789)gutenberg.org
24 Mar 1789

Show all 4 claims

Treat those beneath you as you would want those above you to treat you

Seneca c. 62–65 CE Roman Stoic philosopher and statesman (c But this is the kernel of my advice: Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your betters. Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 47 (tr. Richard M. Gummere, 1917)en.wikisource.org · c. 62–65 CE All korrents from this piece

Their wordsBut this is the kernel of my advice: Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your betters.

↗Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 47 (tr. Richard M. Gummere, 1917)en.wikisource.org
c. 62–65 CE

Everyone fears punishment and loves life; remembering you are like them, do not kill or cause killing

Gautama Buddha c. 500–401 BCE Indian spiritual teacher, born in Lumbini in the Terai All men tremble at punishment, all men love life; remember that thou art like unto them, and do not kill, nor cause slaughter. The Dhammapada, as preserved in the Pali canon (tr. F. Max Müller, 1881)gutenberg.org · c. 500–401 BCE All korrents from this piece

Their wordsAll men tremble at punishment, all men love life; remember that thou art like unto them, and do not kill, nor cause slaughter.

↗The Dhammapada, as preserved in the Pali canon (tr. F. Max Müller, 1881)gutenberg.org
c. 500–401 BCE

Treat every creature in the world as you yourself would be treated

Mahavira c. 600–401 BCE Indian religious reformer of the sixth or fifth century BCE Indifferent to worldly objects, a man should wander about treating all creatures in the world so as he himself would be treated. Sutrakritanga, as recorded by the Jain tradition (tr. Hermann Jacobi, 1895)archive.org · c. 600–401 BCE All korrents from this piece

Their wordsIndifferent to worldly objects, a man should wander about treating all creatures in the world so as he himself would be treated.

↗Sutrakritanga, as recorded by the Jain tradition (tr. Hermann Jacobi, 1895)archive.org
c. 600–401 BCE

A viewour reading

It cannot be the foundation, because it leaves out duties to yourself and to those in need

1 claim filed here, newest first — each in the words of whoever said it.

'Do not do to others what you would not want done to you' cannot be a universal law of morality

Immanuel Kant c. 1785 German philosopher (1724 to 1804), born in Königsberg Let it not be thought that the common "quod tibi non vis fieri, etc." could serve here as the rule or principle. For it is only a deduction from the former, though with several limitations; it cannot be a universal law, for it does not contain the principle of duties to oneself, nor of the duties of benevolence to others Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals (tr. Thomas Kingsmill Abbott, 1873)gutenberg.org · c. 1785 All korrents from this piece

Their wordsLet it not be thought that the common "quod tibi non vis fieri, etc." could serve here as the rule or principle. For it is only a deduction from the former, though with several limitations; it cannot be a universal law, for it does not contain the principle of duties to oneself, nor of the duties of benevolence to others

↗Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals (tr. Thomas Kingsmill Abbott, 1873)gutenberg.org
c. 1785

On this topic, not yet placed

Matched by wording, not yet read into a view. The archive grows on its own, so this is where new claims wait for somebody to read them.

The full chronology, with every quote: religion as a timeline · person by person, side by side · all topics · Something wrong? Tell us