garys@bunkerb.UUCP (Gary Samuelson) (08/12/83)
I have bad news for everyone arguing against using the "Golden Rule" (Do to others as you want others to do to you) as a basis for morality -- you are all using it. Why should I not steal? Because I would be violating the rights of the person I steal from. Why should I care about someone else's rights? Because if I do not respect others' rights, they will not respect my rights. In other words, respect others' rights as you want others to respect your rights. A perfect application (nearly a restatement) of the golden rule. There could be, of course, another reason why I should care about others' rights, but "mysticism" is in disfavor with the general public these days. Gary Samuelson ittvax!bunker!bunkerb
laura@utcsstat.UUCP (08/13/83)
I am printing this article in its entirity. Perhaps it will help others get the point. I have bad news for everyone arguing against using the "Golden Rule" (Do to others as you want others to do to you) as a basis for morality -- you are all using it. Why should I not steal? Because I would be violating the rights of the person I steal from. Why should I care about someone else's rights? Because if I do not respect others' rights, they will not respect my rights. In other words, respect others' rights as you want others to respect your rights. A perfect application (nearly a restatement) of the golden rule. There could be, of course, another reason why I should care about others' rights, but "mysticism" is in disfavor with the general public these days. Gary Samuelson ittvax!bunker!bunkerb Perhaps you haven't noticed, but this whole discussion started as 'Societal consensus as a basis for law'. I am opposed. Clearly the disfavour of "mysticism" with the general public does not carry much weight with me. By your definition, my reasons for caring about others' rights are entirely mystic. Laura Creighton utzoo!utcsstat!laura