Best moral rule?

[JackofSpades]

What is best single moral rule or principle you have ever heard?

Best one I've heard would be: "Do whatever you want, as long as you don't harm others or limit others freedom to do as they want".

It's awesome because it's at the same time very merciful, freedom-loving and responsible towards others.

 

[Solaris]

Is the moral rule that tops them all.

 

[Autumnleaf]

Don't get caught.

 

[jacknife]

I will steal the easy one with "Do onto others what you would have done unto yourself."

 

[JackofSpades]

I will steal the easy one with "Do onto others what you would have done unto yourself."

I hope you know your rights: Every quote you make from ideological adversary can and will be used for propagandistic purposes against you and your world view.

 

[KitKatMatt]

"Treat others how you want to be treated" is the general rule I try to live by.

Of course, I'm not perfect, and sometimes when people are total jerks to me I'm going to treat them how they treated me But I do try to keep that to a minimum.

 

[JackofSpades]

"Treat others how you want to be treated" is the general rule I try to live by.

Of course, I'm not perfect, and sometimes when people are total jerks to me I'm going to treat them how they treated me But I do try to keep that to a minimum.

Oh well, if we talk about rules I actually live by, closest one would likely be "Treat people randomly"...

 

[quatona]

What is best single moral rule or principle you have ever heard?

Best one I've heard would be: "Do whatever you want, as long as you don't harm others or limit others freedom to do as they want".

It's awesome because it's at the same time very merciful, freedom-loving and responsible towards others.

Something like:
"Exercise sndf sharpen your awareness of your own needs as well as the needs of everybody else involved."

 

[dgiharris]

Performing an action that will be to the detriment of your group (and thus their survival) is wrong.

group being defined as family, clan, village, town, city, state...

 

[jayem]

A modified utilitarian ethic: Act in a way that results in the greatest good for everyone.

 

[Inkachu]

"Be the change you want to see in the world".

 

[Eudaimonist]

I'm not a big fan of moral rules, since they tend to be poor on the reasons and justifications for acting in that way, and can come across as advocating a robotic duty-oriented approach to life.

I prefer to think in terms of moral virtues and values, such as "if you cultivate honesty in yourself, you will grow in wisdom."

All that said, I did come up with a moral rule once. It goes:

Always act in a way that upholds your self-respect.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[selfinflikted]

Excellent phrases in here. I second nearly all of them!

 

[GoldenBoy89]

"Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes."
-Bill and Ted

 

[JohnLocke]

"Assume for the moment that you are a purely rational being who knows every detail about a proposed course of action, other than their own identity within such course of action and act reasonably."

Slight twerk of Emmanuel Kant's categorical imperative.

 

[keith99]

I'm going to go with Shakespeare:

To thine own best self be true.

 

[Eudaimonist]

I'm going to go with Shakespeare:

To thine own best self be true.

That's an excellent one.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[keith99]

That's an excellent one.


eudaimonia,

Mark

I like it. If picking one rule I like it over others because even the worst man can apply it and if practiced it tends to make your own best self better. And even the best man still has room to grow under it.

 

[WindStaff]

If I'm not mistaken, the traditional golden rule by biblical standards is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

 

[Archie the Preacher]

Can't do better than this one:

Jesus said ... “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’