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Single Idea 7360

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / B. Contract Ethics / 2. Golden Rule ]

Full Idea

Do not do to others what you would not desire yourself. Then you will have no enemies, either in the state or in your home.

Gist of Idea

Do not do to others what you would not desire yourself

Source

Kongzi (Confucius) (The Analects (Lunyu) [c.511 BCE], XII.2)

Book Ref

Confucius: 'The Sayings of Confucius', ed/tr. Ware,James R. [Mentor 1955], p.76


A Reaction

The Golden Rule, but note the second sentence. Logically, it leads to the absurdity of not giving someone an Elvis record for Christmas because you yourself don't like Elvis. Kant (Idea 3733) and Nietzsche (Idea 4560) offer good criticisms.

Related Ideas

Idea 3733 The 'golden rule' cannot be a universal law as it implies no duties [Kant]

Idea 4560 The Golden Rule prohibits harmful actions, with the premise that actions will be requited [Nietzsche]


The 8 ideas from Kongzi (Confucius)

Confucianism assumes that all good developments have happened, and there is only one Way [Norden on Kongzi (Confucius)]
All men prefer outward appearance to true excellence [Kongzi (Confucius)]
People who control others with fluent language often end up being hated [Kongzi (Confucius)]
Excess and deficiency are equally at fault [Kongzi (Confucius)]
Do not do to others what you would not desire yourself [Kongzi (Confucius)]
Men of the highest calibre avoid political life completely [Kongzi (Confucius)]
Humans are similar, but social conventions drive us apart (sages and idiots being the exceptions) [Kongzi (Confucius)]
The virtues of the best people are humility, maganimity, sincerity, diligence, and graciousness [Kongzi (Confucius)]