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Daily Dose of Reason -
Ethics
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Written by Michael J. Hurd, Ph.D.
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Monday, 01 February 2010 00:00 |
 If you're treating people who are important to you -- in business or personal life -- the same way you'd like to be treated, then you're acting with integrity and, more than likely, with rationality. I'm not saying "Do onto others as you would have them do onto you." I don't buy that. The problem with this notion is that it treats everyone the same. Those who are important to you are lumped with total strangers. You have no obligation whatsoever to total strangers, other than to leave them alone. Also, people who treat you badly are lumped with those who treat you well. Yes, I know that's the essence of the traditional ethic. Everyone claims to buy it, although almost nobody attempts to practice it, and with good reason. When you treat people who treat you badly the same as you treat people who treat you well -- you betray, along with yourself, the people who treat you well. Why does nobody ever consider this point?
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