One intuitive rule which seems to span most cultures and religions is the reciprocity or golden rule.
Treat others as you would like them to treat you.
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| Such a reasonable, socially obvious position is all very well but it is unlikely that your torturer will turn to you and say "well if I were in your shoes I would accept you flogging me to a pulp!". |
Utilitarians have tended to use this rule to illustrate how individual interests coincide with social duties. The argument is that man is an imitative creature (Sidgwick pp. 167) and virtuous displays are typically rewarded by similar behaviours returned by others. Here is a motive for cultivating favours by the application of self-referencing altruism. This a thoughtful egoist would know there is much to be gained from fulfilling his obligations and being truthful to others. This wins the confidence of others. The employee will work hard for the employer beliving that industry brings rewards. the employer will reciprocate kindly and so secure loyal and faithful employees who have the best interests of the employer at heart.
The Golden rule however tends to emphasise what is visible not the covert. It need not hold back someone who wishes to harm others but secretly (see Plato's Ring of Gyges). Even open acts though not perceived to be so may be duplicitously harmful. A business person may be a mixture the unscrupuluous with other good and useful qualities.
Ethical behaviour prescribes duties to everyone but the Golden rule may tend to favour the rich and powerful. The rule is all very well, isn't it, if your torturer turns to you and says "well if I were in your shoes I would accept you flogging me to a pulp!". We may be obliging to those who may do us injury by way of retaliation if we upset them but then we may be mean and distainful to those who are poor and weak.
Of course the Christian injunction "Love thy enemy" extends the golden rule even to the detriment of self-interest.
