The Golden Rule

“Act only on that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law”.

Immanuel Kant

  

        It is from Kant’s “Practical Reason” that we find his “Categorical Imperative”, as mentioned above. This is an imperative which constitutes the foundation upon which I built my own moral philosophy. Kant’s maxim asks of us to think beforehand whether we would wish that our actions become universally acceptable actions.

In other words, if you feel like swearing or assaulting someone, ask yourself if it would be a good norm if everybody in the world starts swearing/assaulting each other? Surely not, so it comes down to the “Golden Rule”, do unto others which you want to be done unto you. Remember, what goes around, comes around, and this should be enough to inspire you to deflect from negative acts and rather embrace positive acts? I am going to leave you with two quotes:

Aspen Baker: “Instead of seeing how much pain I can dish out towards those I disagree with, or who I believe have done me wrong, I seek to follow the golden rule and use my words and behaviour to create more of what the world needs – love, compassion, and connection.” 

Alexandra Katehakis: “If your actions were to boomerang back on you instantly, would you still act the same? Doing to others an act you’d rather not have done to you reveals a powerful internal conflict.”

The golden rule,

is oh so cool,

and Kant knew that too:

“Don’t do unto others what you don’t want to be done unto you...”