I appreciate that you found and shared so many versions of this same tenet and how you framed the recurrence in the context of needing to be reminded. “We keep running it through the cultural copier and leaving it under windshield wipers throughout human history like a flyer.”
It seems to be such a straightforward approach and yet I’ve read pieces that take exception to the Golden Rule. Based on the paradox of doing what we’d want done for us, they point out how selfish that is. I like your idea of being kind whether or not we can expect reciprocity! Thanks, Stew!
The Golden Rule paradox is something I only recently became aware of… like, since I posted the post. I’m not sure the intent of the phrase is selfish, if one thinks of the phrases “do unto” or “treat others as” doesn’t have so much to do establishing self as the benchmark (usually not a good premise), so much as meaning this: "regard each other with empathy; step into my shoes and see the world from my perspective, and I’ll endeavor to do the same to you.
I’m sure I’ll come back to this theme again! Thanks for the reflection on this!
I agree with you. And in the spirit of curiosity, I’ve also given thought to the more literal interpretation of the full adage…”as you would have them do unto you.” That is where some suggest the problem emerges. The way it’s written, it centers self, our needs, our preferences. Your broader interpretation is, I imagine, the intended purpose, but we humans are awfully good at finding “loopholes.” An example: I prefer having plenty of time to prepare for the arrival of an overnight visitor — time to clean my house, procure and make food, etc. That helps me be the kind of host I want to be. My in-laws thought it was better to show up with almost no notice, so I didn’t have to fret about anything ahead of time. It was a source of tension for me for YEARS! Which “do unto others” version gets to take the lead there? 😂
Indeed. I guess I’m at the point where I choose each day to bring as much of it to the world as possible. Each of us do our part. Thanks for reading and reflecting!
I appreciate that you found and shared so many versions of this same tenet and how you framed the recurrence in the context of needing to be reminded. “We keep running it through the cultural copier and leaving it under windshield wipers throughout human history like a flyer.”
It seems to be such a straightforward approach and yet I’ve read pieces that take exception to the Golden Rule. Based on the paradox of doing what we’d want done for us, they point out how selfish that is. I like your idea of being kind whether or not we can expect reciprocity! Thanks, Stew!
The Golden Rule paradox is something I only recently became aware of… like, since I posted the post. I’m not sure the intent of the phrase is selfish, if one thinks of the phrases “do unto” or “treat others as” doesn’t have so much to do establishing self as the benchmark (usually not a good premise), so much as meaning this: "regard each other with empathy; step into my shoes and see the world from my perspective, and I’ll endeavor to do the same to you.
I’m sure I’ll come back to this theme again! Thanks for the reflection on this!
I agree with you. And in the spirit of curiosity, I’ve also given thought to the more literal interpretation of the full adage…”as you would have them do unto you.” That is where some suggest the problem emerges. The way it’s written, it centers self, our needs, our preferences. Your broader interpretation is, I imagine, the intended purpose, but we humans are awfully good at finding “loopholes.” An example: I prefer having plenty of time to prepare for the arrival of an overnight visitor — time to clean my house, procure and make food, etc. That helps me be the kind of host I want to be. My in-laws thought it was better to show up with almost no notice, so I didn’t have to fret about anything ahead of time. It was a source of tension for me for YEARS! Which “do unto others” version gets to take the lead there? 😂
Thank you Stew. We are surely lacking in empathy, compassion, and kindness in this world.
Indeed. I guess I’m at the point where I choose each day to bring as much of it to the world as possible. Each of us do our part. Thanks for reading and reflecting!