In Chapter 5 of The Analects, Confucius formulates an equivalent of the Golden Rule. Through Master’s counsels, Confucius defines the concept of universally appreciated conduct. The Master suggests that in order to be appreciated everywhere, one should approach people with sincerity and truthfulness, and his actions should be honorable and careful. The author emphasizes that such values are appreciated in many directions across the world. Moreover, it is essential to approach even unfamiliar groups of people with sincerity and truthfulness because they might also value such qualities. In addition, the Master explains that without these virtues, an individual will not be appreciated even in his own “neighborhood” (Legge, 1893). The statement suggests that all societies function on a similar basis, and even family ties and acquaintance connections cannot outweigh moral values.
In my opinion, Confucius’ injunction is stronger than the Golden Rule due to several crucial moments. First, the Golden Rule presents a saying of wisdom that can be interpreted in both positive and negative ways. The difference is apparent in applying the rules to the same hypothetical scenario. If an individual is hurt by someone, applying the golden rule to the problem will require him to fight back against an offender, demanding fewer efforts to solve the moral dilemma. On the other hand, Confucius’ approach suggests that in order to be appreciated in society, one should treat everybody honorably and carefully, meaning that ignoring the offender’s attack will keep the individual’s positive status. Furthermore, Confucius’ advice concerns other cultural backgrounds, implying the universality of moral virtues. Lastly, In Confucius’ story, the Master suggested that developing the desired attitude takes significant effort as one should learn the rules and always act in order with those rules.
Reference
Legge, J. (1893). The Analects of Confucius. Clarendon Press. Web.