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Jeffrey Wattles
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The Golden Rule 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

by Jeffrey Wattles (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 7 ratings
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In an age plagued by selfishness, materialism, and violence, ethicists feel impelled to find a universal system of values. To arrive at such a "rule" requires that they struggle with a series of seemingly irreconcilable questions. First, are universal values possible in a pluralistic world, and how does one do justice to both human equality and to individual and cultural differences? How is one to understand the interface between religious moral teachings and the ethics of secular humanism? Finally, can such a system integrate moral intuition and moral reason? In the first scholarly book in English on the golden rule since the seventeenth century, Jeffrey Wattles demonstrates how a clear understanding of the psychological, philosophical, and religious ramifications of the rule can form the synthesis needed to solve these dilemas.

The golden rule, "do to others as you would have others do to you," is widely assumed to have a single meaning, shared by virtually all the world's religions. It strikes the average person as intuitively true, though most modern philosophers reject it or recast it in more rational form. Wattles surveys the history of the golden rule and its spectrum of meanings in diverse contexts, ranging from Confusius to Plato and Aristotle, from classical Jewish literature to the New Testament. He also considers medieval, Reformation, and modern theological and philosophical responses and objections to the rule, as well as how some early twentieth-century American leaders have tried to use the rule. Wattles draws these diverse interpretation into a synthesis that responds, at the psychological, philosophical, and religious levels, to the challenges to moral living in any given culture. Emotionally, the rules counsels consideration for others feelings by asking that "you place yourself in their shoes." Intellectually, it activates moral thinking about what is fair. At the same time, it retains a spiritual appeal as "the principle of the practice of the family of God."

Demonstrating how, despite its contentious history, this age-old ethical principle contiues to be relevant in dealing with contemporary issues, The Golden Rule should interest students and scholars working in religious studies, philosophy and ethics, and psychology, as well as anyone looking for an alternative to postmodern cynicism and alienation.
Previous page
  1. ISBN-13
    978-0195110364
  2. Edition
    1st
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    December 5, 1996
  6. Language
    English
  7. File size
    1343 KB
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"It reveals new depth in a topic that more high-flown approaches are likely to dismiss too quickly....richly woven..."--Theological Studies

About the Author

As a student, Jeffrey Wattles abandoned religion in favor of analytic philosophy and Nietzsche's existentialism only to rediscover the life and teachings of Jesus. As Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Kent State University, he teaches his students how to integrate scientific, philosophic, and religious perspectives.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07TZPXY4L
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 1st edition (December 5, 1996)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 5, 1996
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1343 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 267 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0195110366
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 7 ratings

About the author

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Jeffrey Wattles

Jeffrey Wattles

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In teaching, I present what I see as the best ideas, then invite each person to modify them, until they fit what the individual feels good about applying—to their number one growth need. I say: everyone is on everyone else’s team. We take turns leading, present project updates, and request help from others. Books arise from, and should stimulate, such dialogue.

My degrees are in philosophy from Stanford and Northwestern. Extra study at l’Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium), religious studies for two years at the University of Toronto, and courses at seminaries. I taught many subjects in variety of schools, with the last 23 years at Kent State University.

I dedicated my academic career to a philosophy of living, which led to my book, Living in Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.

Now I have a new main project: promote a spiritual renaissance by writing another book, returning to campus ministry, laughing and loving more, and blogging at https://UniversalFamily.org.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
7 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

R. C. Torgerson
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent treatise on the Golden Rule
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2011
Verified Purchase
This book provides an in-depth coverage of how this key moral framework has functioned and been conceptualized throughout history and in various religious and cultural contexts. I especially enjoyed the breadth of discussion, and feel like the author did a particularly good job in representing how the rule functions within a Christian worldview. I highly recommend this book!
2 people found this helpful
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Greg Kopia
3.0 out of 5 stars Tough read
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2015
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In-depth discussion of the golden rule but written in a very dry academic style.....not easy reading but thorough
4 people found this helpful
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RetSci
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book! The author has put it all together
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2015
Verified Purchase
Wonderful book! The author has put it all together: interpretations, religions, practices, philosophical history, social experiments, business models. If you are the least bit interested about any aspect of the Golden Rule this is the book for you!
One person found this helpful
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John
5.0 out of 5 stars An important contribution to ethics
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2012
This book's analysis of the history and meaning of the golden rule is thorough and insightful. The book shows that the idea expressed by the golden rule is widespread and cross-cultural, is not simplistic, is not tied to any particular religion, and has been affirmed in both religious and non-religious contexts. The book concludes that the golden rule "is a nontheologic principle" and is "an expression of human kinship, the most fundamental truth underlying morality." I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in ethics and moral philosophy.
--John L. Hodge, author
3 people found this helpful
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