Chapter 1 Morality Choosing what kind of person you want to become

Basic moral norms Some basic moral norms across most human cultures Some basic moral norms across most human cultures Do good, avoid evil. Do good, avoid evil. Do (not) do unto others … Do (not) do unto others … Ends do not justify means. Ends do not justify means. Follow what nature intends. Follow what nature intends. In general, civil laws are to be obeyed. In general, civil laws are to be obeyed. When laws are unjust, we may be obliged to resist them. When laws are unjust, we may be obliged to resist them.

AVOID evil … Basic morality What is the evil thing to avoid? What is the good thing to do? Fundamental moral questions Notice we did not say "Do good: kill/punish/torment/ silence evil people." DO good.

Do (not) do unto others … Confucius: "What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others." Confucius: "What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others." Taoism: "Regard your neighbor’s gain as your gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss." Taoism: "Regard your neighbor’s gain as your gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss." Zoroaster: "Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." Zoroaster: "Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." Moses: "Love your neighbor as your self." (Leviticus 19:18) Moses: "Love your neighbor as your self." (Leviticus 19:18)Leviticus 19:18Leviticus 19:18 Buddha: "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Buddha: "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Mahabharata (Hindu scripture): One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself. Mahabharata (Hindu scripture): One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself. Seneca (Roman philosopher): "Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your superiors." Seneca (Roman philosopher): "Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your superiors." Rabbi Hillel: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Rabbi Hillel: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Jesus: "Do unto others as you would have do unto you." (Matthew 7:12) Jesus: "Do unto others as you would have do unto you." (Matthew 7:12)Matthew 7:12Matthew 7:12 Mohammed: "No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself." Mohammed: "No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself." Sikh faith: "No one is my enemy, none a stranger and everyone is my friend." Guru Arjan Dev Sikh faith: "No one is my enemy, none a stranger and everyone is my friend." Guru Arjan Dev Immanuel Kant: "Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it would become a universal law." Immanuel Kant: "Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it would become a universal law." Bahai faith: "Wish not for others what you wish not for yourselves" Bahai faith: "Wish not for others what you wish not for yourselves" Mohandas Gandhi: "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." Mohandas Gandhi: "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." Karl Popper: "The golden rule... is further improved by doing unto others, wherever possible, as they want to be done by." Karl Popper: "The golden rule... is further improved by doing unto others, wherever possible, as they want to be done by."

Universal ethic of reciprocity Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others. Zoroaster, Persian prophet (12 th century BC)

Universal ethic of reciprocity Love your neighbor as your self. Moses, Hebrew prophet (ca. 10 th to 12 th century BC)

Universal ethic of reciprocity Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. Siddhārtha Gautama, the Buddha ( BC)

Universal ethic of reciprocity Regard your neighbor’s gain as your gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss. Laozi, founder of Taoism (5 th -6th century BC)

Universal ethic of reciprocity What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others. Confucius, founder of Confucianism ( BC)

Universal ethic of reciprocity One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself. Mahabharata, Hindu scripture (3 rd to 5 th century BC)

Universal ethic of reciprocity What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary. Rabbi Hillel, 1 st century Rabbi (ca. 30 BC-10 AD)

Universal ethic of reciprocity Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Jesus of Nazareth, founder of Christianity (8 BC-36 AD)

Universal ethic of reciprocity Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your superiors. Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman philosopher (ca. 4 BC-65 AD)

Universal ethic of reciprocity No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. Prophet Muhammed, founder of Islam ( )

Universal ethic of reciprocity No one is my enemy, none a stranger and everyone is my friend. Guru Arjan Dev, fifth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism ( )

Universal ethic of reciprocity Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it would become a universal law. Immanuel Kant, German philosopher ( )

Universal ethic of reciprocity Wish not for others what you wish not for yourselves. Bahaullah, founder of the Baha’i faith (Persia, )

Universal ethic of reciprocity An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Mohandas Karamchand Mahatma Gandhi, Indian independence leader ( )

Universal ethic of reciprocity The golden rule... is further improved by doing unto others, wherever possible, as they want to be done by. Karl Popper, British philosopher ( )

Universal ethic of reciprocity “Love, and do what you will” St. Augustine of Hippo (354 to 430 CE) (one of Mr. Gentry’s personal mottos)

… and the rest? Ends do not justify means. Ends do not justify means. Follow what nature intends. Follow what nature intends. In general, civil laws are to be obeyed. In general, civil laws are to be obeyed. When laws are unjust, we may be obliged to resist them. When laws are unjust, we may be obliged to resist them.