<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> This paper focuses on the dynamics of ethical perspectives that embody the Golden Rule of Morality. Based on critical analysis of this rule in various cultural and religious contexts, but also from the perspective of humanism, the author presents its paradoxical character, the essence of which is interpreted here in terms of a pointer to metaphysical reality. It turns out that social conditionality, as well as the self-referential concept as a starting point of any ethical reasoning, are serious epistemological challenges for the application of the Golden Rule in the position of universal normativity that this study addresses. On the other hand, Judeo-Christian cosmology and the related basis for ethical foundations is presented here as an inspirational space of ethical reasoning in which the paradoxical character of the Golden Rule becomes rather an indicator of a deeper metaethical interpretation of one's own particular ethical attitudes and outcomes than a practical guide to the discovery of ethical universals.</p></abstract>

This paper focuses on the dynamics of ethical perspectives that embody the Golden Rule of Morality. Based on critical analysis of this rule in various cultural and religious contexts, but also from the perspective of humanism, the author presents its paradoxical character, the essence of which is interpreted here in terms of a pointer to metaphysical reality. It turns out that social conditionality, as well as the self-referential concept as a starting point of any ethical reasoning, are serious epistemological challenges for the application of the Golden Rule in the position of universal normativity that this study addresses. On the other hand, Judeo-Christian cosmology and the related basis for ethical foundations is presented here as an inspirational space of ethical reasoning in which the paradoxical character of the Golden Rule becomes rather an indicator of a deeper metaethical interpretation of one's own particular ethical attitudes and outcomes than a practical guide to the discovery of ethical universals.

The golden rule of morality – an ethical paradox

Ethics & Bioethics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"The golden rule of morality \u2013 an ethical paradox"}

This paper focuses on the dynamics of ethical perspectives that embody the Golden Rule of Morality. Based on critical analysis of this rule in various cultural...

The golden rule of morality – an ethical paradox

Published Online: Jul 19, 2018

Page range: 5 - 13

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2018-0004

Keywords
Golden Rule, humanism, Judaeo-Christian perspective, absolute values, ethical paradox, metaethics

© 2018 Tibor Máhrik, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The golden rule of morality – an ethical paradox

Published Online: Jul 19, 2018

Page range: 5 - 13

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2018-0004

KeywordsGolden Rule, humanism, Judaeo-Christian perspective, absolute values, ethical paradox, metaethics

© 2018 Tibor Máhrik, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Golden Rule, humanism, Judaeo-Christian perspective, absolute values, ethical paradox, metaethics