The Golden Rule: Difference between revisions

there is only one thing you can do:

And that is to do unto others,

 

To treat others like you would like them to treat you [[The Golden Rule/Useful Notes|is one of the most basic and universal moral principles that exist]]. With all of [[The Golden Rule/Quotes|the different ways of expressing it]], this principle is known as '''The Golden Rule'''. In various works of fiction it surfaces as a [[Stock Aesop]] as well as a [[Stock Phrase]].

 

{{examples}}

* In ''[[Naruto]]'', other characters open up to the protagonist - trust him and help him - because they realize that he is doing the same for them.

 

== [[Literature]] ==

* ''[[The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster]]'': The spirit of the rule is played straight, while the literal wording of the biblical version os played with in the 8:th commandment. FSM really prefers if we don't do stuff to others that we would like them to do to us but they don't want us to do to them. Oh, and that goes especially for rough sex.

* Invoked in [[Robert A. Heinlein|Heinlein]]'s ''[[The Cat Who Walks Through Walls]]'': The main character lives in a habitat called Golden Rule. Where, we are told, there is only one rule, and all others are merely derived from it.

** However, the only interpretation of the Golden Rule practiced in the habitat is that of the station's feudal ruler.

* In "Die Heimkehr" ("Homecoming: A Novel") by the German author Bernhard Schlink the main character's father invokes a variation he calls the "Iron Rule": "Whatever I am ready to suffer myself I may inflict onto others as well."

 

* Debated on ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'': Barney came up with the Platinum Rule: "You can love thy neighbor, but you can never, ever ''love'' thy neighbor." The others point out how Love Thy Neighbor isn't the Golden Rule as such.

* Subject of a [[Crosses the Line Twice]] joke in ''[[The Daily Show]]'', where apropos of a meeting between Catholic Cardinals to discuss the sexual molestation scandals, Jon claims that the aforementioned Bible verse will be altered to include the footnote "except when explicitly prohibited by law".

* Inverted/Parodied in a [[Benny Hill]] song: "Do unto others before they do it unto you."

 

* ''[[Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal]]'' - The comic [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1899 points out] a possible analogy with the "Prisoner's Dilemma". Option A: If both choose "sell each other out" it's like "act selfishly" for the Golden Rule because it's worse for both parties, and option D: "each do as you would like other to do to you" is like "refuse to sell out" because it's best for both if they cooperate and reciprocate. It then points out that although it's a universal moral, its proponents have argued for it it in very different ways.

{{quote|'''Jeremy Bentham''': "The greatest felicity for all is here! Eh? Come on! Maximize your felicity in option D! Wooh!"

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Morality Tropes]]

[[Category:Stock Phrases]]

[[Category:Politics Tropes]]

[[Category:Philosophy Tropes]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Golden Rule, The}}