History

• WWJD?
  
  According to "The Culture of Ancient Egypt" by John Albert Wilson, the code of reciprocity can be traced as far back as 1080 B.C.E. in written form. The code is also found in Ancient Greek culture in the philosophies of such eloquent thinkers as Thales, Epicurus and Epictetus as well as most religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.
  
  It was the Christian version of the code, however that gave rise to the title "The Golden Rule." Although the Old Testament canonical books of Leviticus, Tobit and Sirach presented a form of the rule, it was Jesus of Nazareth's quote, "Do unto others as you would have they do unto you" that may be the most familiar in modern Western culture.
  
  

Types

• All Golden Rules Are Equal (Or Are They?)
  
  Jesus' quote is one of many versions of "The Golden Rule." A few examples of other forms of the rule are as follows:
  
  "The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own."--Chapter 49, Tao Te Ching
  
  "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself."--Baha'u'llah (from scriptures of the Baha'i religion
  
  "An it harm none, do what thou wilt."--Wiccan Rede
  
  Many of these types deal with varying value systems, so they are different in an applied sense but, they are essentially the same code of reciprocity.
  
  

Misconceptions

• A Golden Rule(r)?
  
  In "The Golden Rule" by Jeffrey Wattles, the "Golden Rule" has been misquoted with such variations as "Do to others as will be done to you" and has even been debated to mean "get even" indicating an act of vengeance.
  
  

Criticisms

• Reciprocity, Eh?
  
  Jeffrey Wattles' book, "The Golden Rule," contends that many people have criticized the code as unrealistic and view it as a misleading code that may keep people from confronting problems.
  
  Immanuel Kant dismissed the code as to infer justice may be obstructed. He is quoted as saying, "for on this principle the criminal might argue against the judge who punishes him."
  
  

Benefits

• "You" And "Me" Are "We"
  
  Even though it emerges in most religious and in many forms, "The Golden Rule" is a standard that many people support as an ethical and humane practice.
  
  Most cultures practice a form of this reciprocal code by outlawing such acts as theft, fraud, physical assault and murder, and by recognizing and, sometimes rewarding, altruistic acts in society.