What do we get wrong about the Golden Rule? - Headspace (2024)

FAQs

What do we get wrong about the Golden Rule? - Headspace? ›

"It also helps you distinguish between the similarities and differences between your and other people's situations." She says "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you" assumes that people's experiences are alike—but that is simply not true.

And hot on its heels, another common criticism of the Golden Rule is that it does not say in what specific ways any given person should act, nor does it explain why some action is morally correct or incorrect.

The golden rule does have a flaw in it. It would be silly to think that in this world, we are truly aware of each others intentions. Therefore, it would also be silly to assume that everyone wishes to be treated in a delighful manner.

The problem is, the Golden Rule has a massive flaw. It assumes that everyone around you, is just like you. That other people want and need the same things that you want and need, and that you should automatically be able to figure them out based on your own experience. But individuals do not work like that.

Most of us have heard the old adage: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This wisdom is so ingrained in our life lessons, it has become known as “the golden rule.”

It has perhaps been a source of wonder why Confucius sought to formulate the so-called Golden Rule of Morality in a negative fashion: Never do unto others what you would not Like them to do onto you. '

This can result in a more equitable outcome, especially when the literal interpretation would lead to unfair or discriminatory results. Potential for judicial subjectivity: One of the disadvantages of the golden rule is that it introduces an element of judicial subjectivity into the interpretation process.

Where the Golden Rule fails is that it does not take into account the differences between people. It assumes that all people want to be treated the same way. In some cases this true (i.e. people want to be treated with kindness and respect), but here are a few examples when this is not true.

The Biblical Golden Rule states: “Do unto others what you want done to yourself” The Negative Golden Rule states: “Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself”. This nugget of wisdom goes back thousands of years.

“Do unto others…”

The Golden Rule is used as a tool to direct the behavior of people towards an end that we assume is positive – if you want to be treated well, you should treat others well. But if we dig a bit deeper, we find that the Golden Rule is really selfish and not selfless. It is about ourselves.

Why is the Golden Rule not used anymore? ›

It's possible that parents today prefer to use other terms and phrases to teach and reinforce the behaviors that embody the Golden Rule (such as empathy, fairness, and respect). 2. Different cultures use other terms.

And so the answer to why is it so hard for us to follow the Golden Rule is that despite the good intentions of our teachers to teach us to respect one another, we've been taught far more examples of how not to treat one another.

As such, the golden rule is a good barometer of what we think decent treatment is." Still, it's important to recognize when to draw the line: try not to fall into a trap of co-dependence where you keep making sacrifices but don't get anything back.

One, it fails to explain how to deal with non-reciprocation. Two, it fails to make clear that my obligations are obligations regardless of how I would wish to be treated by others. Three, it lacks any special value in explaining the right occasions for benevolence. And, four, it has no power to motivate benevolence.

The golden rule is a rule of conduct and a way of being. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In other words, behave the way you want others to behave. And it works because you're in alignment with your values, of course – but it also transforms the energy around you.

Headspace techniques are based on Henry's law, which states that the ratio of a dissolved substance in aqueous solution to the substance in the vapor in a sealed glass vial is constant, depending on temperature.

According to Kant, what is the main problem with the golden rule? It makes morality depend solely on the consequences of one's actions.

The “golden rule” is usually expressed as “treat others as you yourself would wish to be treated”. Its flaw is that it rests upon an assumption that everybody has the same desires as to how they would like to be treated … and they don't.