A Supreme Moral Principle
Jack Daniels
Philosophy
Professor B
April 30th, 2011
A Supreme Moral Principle
“The Golden Rule”, is it a universal rule or a rule to another hippie-saying? The Golden Rule is to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Before I read this piece of writing I was a strong believer of the Golden Rule, but as I read this section I slowly changed my outlook on life pertaining to the Golden Rule.
My views changed as I’ve became more knowledgeable to different cultures and ideals of others. Being ignorant to masochists, who are people who are gratified by pain, I relieved that beliefs and cultures play a major role in actions to others. Like most “normal” people, I hate going through pain, but masochists love it, who am I to say their beliefs are wrong? Here is where The Golden Rule fails, if masochists were about to express their beliefs freely without any consequences and repercussions there would be a lot of non-masochists in pain, which isn’t fair. The Golden Rule isn’t a rule at all, it is a moral code and different people have different morals that they live by and uphold due to their lifestyle and values.
Immanuel Kant believed that actions shouldn’t be judged based upon the outcome to rather what motivates it, The Kantian Principle. He uses an example of making a promise with no intention of keeping it due to severe circumstances. The poor family promised a rich man that they will pay him back for money for food to survive; it was either lie to survive or die.
John Stuart Mill on the other hand believed that majority rules basically. He believes that some actions are justified on utilitarian grounds, utilitarianism. If one person has to suffer to entertain or please multiple others, so be it.
In conclusion, there is no Supreme Moral Principle, due to the sensitivity to others and their
Philosophy
Professor B
April 30th, 2011
A Supreme Moral Principle
“The Golden Rule”, is it a universal rule or a rule to another hippie-saying? The Golden Rule is to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Before I read this piece of writing I was a strong believer of the Golden Rule, but as I read this section I slowly changed my outlook on life pertaining to the Golden Rule.
My views changed as I’ve became more knowledgeable to different cultures and ideals of others. Being ignorant to masochists, who are people who are gratified by pain, I relieved that beliefs and cultures play a major role in actions to others. Like most “normal” people, I hate going through pain, but masochists love it, who am I to say their beliefs are wrong? Here is where The Golden Rule fails, if masochists were about to express their beliefs freely without any consequences and repercussions there would be a lot of non-masochists in pain, which isn’t fair. The Golden Rule isn’t a rule at all, it is a moral code and different people have different morals that they live by and uphold due to their lifestyle and values.
Immanuel Kant believed that actions shouldn’t be judged based upon the outcome to rather what motivates it, The Kantian Principle. He uses an example of making a promise with no intention of keeping it due to severe circumstances. The poor family promised a rich man that they will pay him back for money for food to survive; it was either lie to survive or die.
John Stuart Mill on the other hand believed that majority rules basically. He believes that some actions are justified on utilitarian grounds, utilitarianism. If one person has to suffer to entertain or please multiple others, so be it.
In conclusion, there is no Supreme Moral Principle, due to the sensitivity to others and their