Философия /3. История философии
Phys.N. Vorobyova O. B.
Samara state
transport University, Russia
The Golden rule of morality:
historical and philosophical analysis.
The Golden rule gives the complete idea of morality,
mainly which is related to the other person as yourself. The Golden rule
requires «the individual to put yourself in the place of another and act toward
others as if in their place were he is»[1, p. 134].
Golden rule was mentioned in ancient Indian «Mahabharata»
the sage Bhishma and in the teachings of the Buddha. Confucius, explaining to
the student the meaning of humanity («Ren»), says: «do
Not do man what you do not want done to yourself» (Analects, XV, 24) [2, p.
79].
Antique formulates the rules of morality words Pitaka,
Thales, Aristotle, Seneca, [3, p. 78]. So, Aristotle on the question of how to
behave with friends, said: "as I would like them to behave to us" [4,
p. 69]. The Roman philosopher Seneca has formulated the Golden rule in this
form: «...that's the General gist of my advice: treat with standing below as
you would like addressed with you standing above» [5, p. 19].
In the Gospels, the principle of morality is
recognized the most important commandment after commandment «love the Lord thy
God», «judge Not, that ye be not judged, for with what judgment ye judge, ye
shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you»
(Matthew 7, 1-2), «judge Not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye
shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven; give and it shall be
given unto you: good measure, pressed down, pumped and perepolneny be poured
into your lap; for, whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you»
(Luke 6, 37-38).
In modern times T. Hobbes considers the Golden rule
not only as the basis of morality, but more widely - as the basis of morality
and law, the Foundation of a healthy society. For Hobbes, the Golden rule – «the
law of all people» [6, p. 99], «the law encompassing all the other laws» [7, p.
323], a rule which «can be understood, or not contrary to the law of nature
one's intention» [6, p. 99], a rule in which «summarized» natural laws» [6, p.
122].
J. Locke the Golden rule is «the unshakable moral rule
and basis of all social virtue» [8, p. 117], «the great principle of morality –
«do unto others as want others do unto thee» [8, p. 119]. Both the philosopher
think this rule is a natural extension of the normal relationship of man to
himself. Violation of the rules «it would be folly and contrary to the interest
with which people sacrifice, when they behave contrary to this /rule/» [8, p.
119].
As a categorical imperative the Golden rule of
morality is formulated by Immanuel Kant: «Act so that the Maxim of your action
could become a universal law»[9, p. 323] or «Act so that you always treat
humanity in your person and in the person of every other as well as to the
goal, and never would take him only as a means»; «Act only according to such
Maxim that inspired you at the same time can wish that it become a universal
law so as if the Maxim of your actions by your will should become a universal
law of nature» [9, p. 260].
In the Russian philosophy V. S. Solovev has shown the
emotions, the psyche in General as the individual basis of the Golden rule.
People are guided by this rule due to the feelings of conscience and compassion
- said the philosopher. Conscience says, do not do to others what you do not
want done to yourself, i.e. don't do evil. Compassion motivates you to help
those who suffer and to deal with them the way you want them to treat you in a
similar situation.
Golden rule has two forms for your perusal. In its
negative form: do not do to others what you would not want to do you, the
Golden rule sets the lower limit of the scale of moral relationship of man to
other people, forbids to do evil, that is, sets the minimum moral requirements
for human behavior.
In its positive form: do to others as you would have
them do to you, it sets the highest possible bar of moral relationship of man
to other people, encourages to do good deeds, in other words, determines the
maximum of moral requirements for human behavior.
Thus, the Golden rule covers the whole range of moral
actions and is the basis for the distinction and definition of moral categories
of good and evil. It establishes a certain balance of interests suggests a
human yardstick to measure his deeds of others and, conversely, to measure
strange measure their actions.
Литература:
1.Гусейнов А.А. Золотое правило
нравственности. М.: Молодая гвардия,1988. – 272с.
2. Переломов Л.С. Слово Конфуция. Μ.: Фабула, 1992. – 192
с.
3.Белякова О.Б. Золотое правило
нравственности как главный принцип человеческого общежития // Наука и культура России: Материалы
III Международной научно-практической конференции. 2006. С.78-79.
4.Воробьева
О.Б. Проблема происхождения морали. Античная философия // Наука и культура
России: Материалы VIII Международной научно-практической конференции. 2011. С.
68-70.
5.Воробьева
О.Б. Философия позднеантичного мира: этико-религиозный аспект // Система
ценностей современного общества. 2010. № 12. С. 18-21.
6. Гоббс Т. Соч. в 2-х томах. Т.
7. Гоббс Т. Соч. в 2-х томах. Т.
8. Локк Дж. Соч. в 3-х томах. Т. 1.М.:
Мысль, 1988. – 668 с.
9. Кант И. Соч. в 6-ти томах. Т. 4.
Ч. 2. М.: Мысль, 1965. – 478 с.