
If you want people to help you in a selfless manner, then you should also help them in a selfless manner.

If you don’t want people to be rude to you, then you shouldn’t be rude to them.If you want people to be polite to you, then you should be polite to them.There are many examples of ways in which the golden rule can be implemented, in its various forms. Finally, in some contexts, the term ‘golden rule’ is used to refer to an important rule or principle in a certain field (for example “the golden rule of engineering”), rather than to the golden rule in the context of morality. In addition, the general concept of the golden rule is sometimes also referred to as the ethic of reciprocity. Note: the negative form of the golden rule is sometimes referred to as the silver rule. Namely, all forms of the golden rule aim to help you treat others better, by using the way you yourself would want to be treated as a guide of how to behave. However, all these forms of the golden rule revolve around the same underlying concept and around the same underlying intention. This suggests, for example, that if wish ill toward someone else, then you are also wishing ill toward yourself.ĭifferent people tend to be exposed to different forms of the golden rule to a different degree, based on factors such as the predominant religion in their society. Empathic/responsive form. The empathic formulation of the golden rule states that when you wish something upon others, you also wish it upon yourself.The negative formulation of the golden rule states that you should not treat others in ways you would not want to be treated yourself. This suggests, for example, that if you don’t want people to say mean things to you, then you shouldn’t say mean things to them.

This suggests, for example, that if you want people to treat you with respect, then you should treat them with respect. The positive formulation of the golden rule states that you should treat others the same way you would want to be treated yourself. The golden rule can be formulated in three main ways:
