The Golden Rule in Business

The Golden Rule is an important part of our society’s virtue ethics.  It focuses us on our duties and responsibilities to one another more than on our individual rights.  It invites us to focus our attention on respecting and preserving fairness and the rights of others.  In business, we are entitled to feel that we will be dealt with honestly.  Though we must be wary, in our business relationships (caveat emptor), no business deals would ever be made if both parties didn’t feel that they were receiving approximately equal benefit.   

Of course, if this is to be the case, it requires that businesses properly and fairly represent themselves, their products and services.  This basic justice is fundamental to our economy.  When businesses violate this – by over-hyping or mis-representing – it violates this important social principle and damages us all.

This isn’t a principle that is unique to any single religion, either:

“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” – Christianity

“Seek for others the happiness you desire for yourself.  Hurt not others with that which pains you.” – Buddhism

“That which is hurtful to you, do not do to your fellow man” – Judaism

“Let none of you treat his brother in a way he himself would not like to be treated.  No one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself” – Islam

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