Золотое правило в системе первых принципов морали Томаса Рида

Abstract

In Modern times, the Golden Rule, the classical formula of which is contained in the Sermon on the Mount Matthew 7:12, is the subject of discussion in a number of moral and philosophical teachings as a specifically moral concept that partially or completely expresses the normative meaning of morality. It is in the Moderntimes that the rule gets its name of the Golden one. In the article, the modern understanding of the Golden Rule is considered on the basis of Thomas Reid’s ethics, who included the rule formula among the first principles of morality, i.e. self-evident principles that constitute moral thinking, determine moral reasoning, from which the entire system of moral duties is derived, and any person who seeks to understand what his duty is in specific circumstances, based on them, can do this. The main purpose of the Golden Rule, Reid saw in the fact that its application allows you to overcome the individual's partiality for himself and prejudice against others – which turns out to be destructive for human relations. He considers the Golden Rule as the rule of impartiality. The article shows that the special place that Reid assigned to the Golden Rule in the system of first principles was determined by the fact that (1) Reid described only the Golden Rule as the rule of the Divine teacher and overshadowed with the authority of the law and the prophets; (2) he described the rule as “the most comprehensive”, i.e. extending its effect to all possible relations between people – equal and unequal, including the relation of a person to himself, and all types of duties (to himself and others, perfect and imperfect). The article concludes that Reid presented the Golden Rule as an expression of the entire normative content of morality. Therefore, although he did not build a hierarchy of first principles, we can conclude that the Golden Rule by the very logic of Reid in his system turns out to be the highest.