NoNukes writes:
The golden rule does not suggest that you should your mom an X-box for Mother's day because that's what you'd like. Neither does the rule tell us to get an addict more booze and crack because that's what he's sure he'd like. And I think that all of us, including you, know these things.
True. But Tempe 12ft Chicken's examples were just to prove a point. One that you haven't refuted.
The golden rule does not suggest that you should your mom an X-box for Mother's day because that's what you'd like.
Then, what does the golden rule suggest?
Does it suggest that if I would like some charity money when I am poor and bankrupt, then I should give others charity money when they are poor and bankrupt?
Again... this scenario fails if someone
does not like receiving charity when they are poor and bankrupt.
And, again, a clearer notion would be to "do unto others as they would like to have done unto them."
Does the golden rule suggest that we should do unto others what they would like done to them, because we like to have done to us what we like?
If so... that's a really roundabout rule that is more clearly put as "do unto others as they would like to have done unto them." ...which is all Tempe 12ft Chicken was suggesting.
If so... why say "do unto others as you would have done unto you" in the first place if this isn't what's actually suggested?
Of course, "doing as others would have done unto them" can be taken literally too much as well.
You could suggest that other like having money given to them, so I should give all my money to them.
But, note, that this would involve hurting myself.
Taking the golden rule too literal and we end up with hurting
others.
So, we're left with two rules.
Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have done to you
Platinum Rule: Do unto others as they would like to have done unto them
Golden Rule covers basic scenarios.
Platinum Rule covers basic scenarios.
Golden Rule can be taken advantage of and made to seem silly.
Platinum Rule can be taken advantage of and made to seem silly.
However... (for some situations)
Taking advantage of a literal Golden Rule leads to hurting other people. AND... To explain how the Golden Rule should be used then requires the use of the Platinum rule anyway.
Taking advantage of a literal Platinum Rule leads to hurting only yourself. To explain how the Platinum Rule should be used then only requires informing the person not to be stupid.
The Platinum Rule is clearly superior, and it's not silly to point that out.
Except that it was not the rule that fell apart in your scenarios.
Perhaps not by following the spirit of the rule, no. But that wasn't the point. The point was to provide a better, clearer, harder-to-take-advantage-of alternative wording.
Tempe 12ft Chicken says that the Golden Rule falls apart, and we should rephrase as the Platinum Rule.
And you chastise him by saying the Golden Rule doesn't actually fall apart if you apply it in the sense of the Platinum Rule (but still just call it the Golden Rule)?
That sounds like you actually agree with Tempe 12ft Chicken, but just want to keep the traditional name, and wanted to correct him on his... um... non-use of the traditional wording?
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