The
Golden Rule or
ethic of reciprocity is a moral
maxim or principle of
altruism found in nearly every human culture and religion, suggesting it is related to a fundamental
human nature. The maxim may appear as either a positive or negative
injunction governing conduct:
- One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself (positive or directive form).
- One should not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated (negative or prohibitive form).
- What you wish upon others, you wish upon yourself (empathic or responsive form).