For millennia, people of different eras and social structures have been looking for the most reliable way to communicate with each other. The best representatives of philosophical and religious thought worked on how to bring universal human relations to harmony. In the end, it turned out that, despite the difference in epochs and historical realities, the “golden rules of ethics" in all years remain unchanged. This is determined primarily by their universal character.
Treat people the way you want to be treated
It is this principle, which is the foundation of morality and which has become the “golden rule of ethics”, in one form or another is preached by all the major world religions of both modernity and bygone times. As early as the 5th century BC, this ethical rule was formulated in the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. In a later period of history, it was reflected in the Old Testament, and then was testified by the evangelists Matthew and Luke as words spoken by Jesus Christ.
This seemingly simple rule is often difficult to follow. The reason lies in our natural human weaknesses, forcing us to be guided primarily by our interests and neglect others. The egoism inherent in one degree or another of each person does not allow him, neglecting his own benefit, to make efforts to ensure that it is good for another. The answer to the question: “How do I understand the golden rule of ethics and what does it mean to me?” often becomes decisive in the formation of a person as a person.
The concepts of behavior among the ancient Sumerians
Based on the general principles of universal human relations, throughout its history, mankind has developed its golden rules of ethics. One of the first such attempts can be observed among the ancient Sumerians who inhabited Mesopotamia. According to written monuments of that era that have reached us, the observance of moral standards by the inhabitants of the state has been vigilantly monitored by the sun god Utu and the goddess of justice Nanshe.
Every year, she judged people, ruthlessly punishing those who, following the path of vice, committed arbitrariness, evaded the implementation of rules and contracts, and also sowed hostility between people. It came from an angry goddess and all kinds of crooks, deceiving unsuspecting buyers in the markets, and those who, having sinned, did not find the strength to admit their deeds.
Etiquette standards in the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, the first manuals appeared, in which the principles of people's behavior in relation to civil and church authorities, as well as to households, were formulated. By this time, a certain standard of behavior in certain situations had developed. The rules stipulated by him were called etiquette.
Not only the successful career of the courtier, but sometimes his very life, depended on the ability to behave in society, observing etiquette. Even monarchs were obliged to follow similar rules, which strictly regulated all aspects of communication between people. It was not an ethics of behavior in the sense we adopted. At their courtyards, etiquette wore the form of a ritual and was intended to exalt august persons and consolidate the social division of the estate. Everything was dictated by etiquette, starting from the shape and size of shoe buckles and ending with the rules for receiving guests.
Etiquette rules in the countries of the East
There are many cases where non-compliance with etiquette became the cause of the failure of important diplomatic missions, and sometimes led to the outbreak of war. They were most meticulously observed in the countries of the East, and especially in China. The most complicated ceremonies of greeting and tea drinking existed there, often putting foreigners in an extremely awkward position. In particular, Dutch merchants faced this, having established trade relations with Japan and China at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Contracts for the exchange of goods and permission to trade were achieved by them through the implementation of numerous and sometimes humiliating etiquette requirements. It is known, for example, that the director of a Dutch trading post, along with his employees, was forced to regularly present gifts to a reigning person called the shogun. It was believed that in this way they expressed their loyalty and devotion.
Both in eastern countries and at the courts of European monarchs, the requirements of etiquette were so complex that specially trained people - master ceremonies appeared to monitor their compliance. It should be noted that this science was not taught to everyone, but only to aristocrats. The ability to behave in compliance with all the rules of etiquette was considered a sign of social superiority and an important feature that separated the privileged sections of society from the rude common people.
Old Russian printed collections of rules of conduct
In Russia, the ethical principles of behavior were first fully described in the famous Domostroy, the immortal creation of Archpriest Sylvester. In the XVI century, he made an attempt to formulate the basic rules of behavior, which included not only indications of what should be done, but also explaining how to achieve the best result.
Much of it echoes the biblical Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Includes Domostroy and advice not to do to another what you do not wish for yourself. This is by no means accidental, because the "golden rules of ethics" are the foundation on which all ethical principles are based.
The next step in establishing norms of social behavior in Russia was the code of rules published in the time of Peter I, known as the “Honest Mirror of Youth ...”. He included detailed explanations of how to behave in a variety of life circumstances. On its pages it was explained what is decent and what is not in society, at home, in the service, and so on. There were specific indications of the permissibility or inadmissibility of certain actions when communicating with other people, during a conversation, at a table or on the street. In this book, the "golden rules of ethics" were set out in relation to specific situations.
The harm from formalism in following ethical standards
It is important to note that, assimilating certain behavioral norms, which are certainly necessary in everyday life, a person is in danger, blindly following the instructions laid down in them, falling into a very undesirable extreme - hypocrisy and a tendency to evaluate the virtues of people around them, not only by their human qualities, but only by apparent respectability.
In the old days, there was a fashion among the metropolitan aristocracy to adhere to a lifestyle called by the French expression “comme il faut”. His followers, indifferent to their inner content, ethics of behavior was reduced only to strict observance of established high society norms, relating mainly to external attributes - clothing, hairstyles, manner of holding and speaking. A vivid illustration of this from Russian literature is the image of Eugene Onegin in the early days of his life.
Rules of conduct in the common people
All official treatises concerning norms of behavior were oriented exclusively to representatives of the privileged classes and in no way concerned peasants and artisans. Their ethics of relations was governed mainly by religious precepts, and their attitude to a person was determined by their business qualities and hard work.
An important place in the life of ordinary people was given to the veneration of the father of the family. According to unwritten, but strictly enforced laws, sons were supposed to take off their hats in his presence, it was forbidden to be the first to sit down at the table and start eating. All attempts to contradict the head of the house were subjected to special condemnation.
Women and girls were required to have physical and moral cleanliness, ability for childbearing, ability to housekeeping and at the same time remain cheerful, frugal and patient. The beatings, which often got them from their husbands, were considered not a humiliation, but a “science." Wives convicted of adultery were severely punished as a warning to others, but, as a rule, they were not expelled from the family so as not to deprive the children of maternal care.
Timeless Laws
Over time, the way of life has changed, giving way to new forms due to social and technological progress. In accordance with this, many rules of behavior, which were purely formal, and limited in time and estate, were left in the past. At the same time, the “golden rules of ethics" remained unchanged. Overcoming the time barrier, they firmly took a place in our life today. It is not a matter of the fact that some new types of the “golden rule” have appeared, just, along with the previous ones, its modern forms have been identified.
The need for comprehensive education
Even without taking into account the observance of any specific rules of behavior by others, it is not difficult to distinguish among them cultural people with whom there is a desire to continue communication, and ill-mannered people, pushing themselves aside from crude rudeness and rudeness. This testifies to their low internal culture, which cannot develop without the purposeful development of its external forms. Each person has in his heart certain desires, emotions and impulses. However, only a well-mannered person will not allow them to express themselves in public.
This determines the need to educate every person, and especially young people, about the rules of behavior that will not allow, as the outstanding Soviet teacher V. A. Sukhomlinsky put it, “pour salt on wounds and knock on boots where it is appropriate to hold your breath”. The lack of elementary education, which is based on culture and ethics, can serve a very poor service even to a talented and in his own way wonderful person.
There is no need to mention that every person wants kindness, attention and sympathy. Desiring to receive them from others, many people nevertheless remain stingy with their manifestation. Offended by someone else's rudeness, do not hesitate to show it at every opportunity. It would seem that the elementary foundations of ethics dictated by life itself should teach a person to smile at a smile, give way to a woman or be able to maintain a benevolent tone during an argument, but this happens very rarely. Therefore, good manners and a culture of behavior are, as a rule, not a natural gift, but the result of education.
Appearance is the key to a profitable impression
It is important to note such a detail: among the factors that form the overall picture of our communication with others, there can be little things. Therefore, it is extremely erroneous to believe that appearance plays a secondary role in this matter. This follows from the conclusion of many psychologists who claim that most people tend to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses, guided by appearance, since it is largely a characteristic of the internal content. Here it is appropriate to recall the biblical wisdom that states: "The Spirit creates its form."
Of course, over time, when people get the opportunity to get to know each other in more detail, their opinion of each other, which was based on a purely external perception, can either be confirmed or change to the opposite, but in any case, its formation begins with the appearance, which consists of a number of details.
In addition to neatness, charm and physical beauty, the person’s ability to dress according to his age and in accordance with fashion is noteworthy. It would be wrong to underestimate its role in society, because fashion is nothing more than one of the standards of human behavior, albeit sometimes very short-lived. It is formed spontaneously under the influence of moods and tastes that currently prevail in society, but its influence on people's behavior is undeniable.
In addition to a reasonable pursuit of fashion, a person who wants to make an impression on others should take care of the proper condition of his own body. This should be understood as observing the rules of personal hygiene and exercising, which will not only improve the appearance, but also cause a feeling of self-confidence. The connection between satisfaction with one’s own appearance and confidence both in solving personal issues and in professional activity has been repeatedly proved. For more complete self-realization, it should take into account the need to comply with purely professional ethical standards.
Business and office ethics
It is customary to understand official ethics as a whole set of norms of behavior of a person engaged in a specific activity. It consists of a number of general and private components. It includes professional solidarity, sometimes acquiring forms of corporatism, the concept of duty and honor, as well as a sense of responsibility imposed by one or another activity. Also, professional ethics determines the norms of the relationship between managers and subordinates, the culture of official communication within the team and the behavior of its members in the event of emergencies or conflicts.
Today, business ethics is commonly understood as a set of business laws, sometimes not legally formalized, but generally accepted in business circles. They often determine the order and style of work, partnerships and circulation of documentation. Ethics of modern business is a set of norms developed over a long historical period under the influence of cultures of various peoples and their ethnic characteristics.