Empathetic ethics

Treat your fellow man as you would treat yourself. We should treat our fellow man as we would want to be treated if we were in his or her place.

This idea, which could be considered the nucleus of empathetic ethics, could, if obeyed, take the sting out of war, civil war and persecution of people:

Since, surely, no country would want war to be waged against it, no man would want to be killed or persecuted or subjected to politically motivated violence by his countrymen, and since no refugee would want to be harassed, persecuted, mocked and dehumanised on top of the tragedy of being forced to flee his or her homeland, and since any refugee will want to find asylum and protection and mercy in a safe country, it is easy to see that this effect of the empathetic ethics is right.

We should treat all people in need, for example refugees, as we would want to be treated if we were in their place.

The idea could be considered a variant of the Golden Rule found in a number of traditions, for example the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

This idea could also be integrated in legislation as it is parallel to Christ’s words in his speech in Toward the Light: Legislators should prepare the laws as though they themselves should be judged by each and every statute.

Furthermore, since everyone wants to be loved, respected, esteemed and included in the community, the idea is also a guide, or an ideal of love, and could be considered a variant of the commandment to love one’s neighbour: Love your neighbour as yourself ( Leviticus 19:18).

Therefore, it is easy to see that empathetic ethics, including the guide and ideal for all interhuman behaviour, could pave the way for a better and more peaceful world, in which people can enjoy safe and peaceful lives, and thus become increasingly capable of developing, refining and raising their spirits, which is the real meaning and purpose of our life here on Earth, according to Toward the Light.