Connecting The Golden Rule and St. Francis of Assisi

The Golden Rule (GR) says: "Treat others as you want to be treated." On and off over the last few years, I have been doing some background reading on the GR. The writings of Harry J. Gensler S.J., a philosophy professor, ethicist, and logician, have been most helpful.

The GR is an ancient, very popular, and widespread moral principle. It is common to all the world's major religions and cultures. It has become an important concept in inter-religious dialogue.

It is my hope that this blog post will prompt Franciscans everywhere to realize that the GR is part of their rich heritage and that they will offer the GR as a framework for improving relationships.

First, however, there is a problem. When pushed to extremes, a literal interpretation of the GR can lead to absurdities. In his book Ethics and the Golden Rule, Gensler identifies six shortcomings, which he calls "GR fallacies."

1. The literal GR fallacy assumes that everyone has the same likes, dislikes, and needs that we have.
2. The soft GR fallacy assumes that we should never act against what others want.
3. The doormat GR fallacy assumes that we should ignore our own interests.
4. The third-parties GR fallacy assumes that we should consider only ourselves and the other person.
5. The easy GR fallacy assumes that GR gives an infallible test of right and wrong that takes only seconds to apply.
6. The too-simple-or-too-complex GR fallacy assumes GR is either for kindergarteners or philosophers, not regular folks.

Gensler argues that the GR needs a same-situation clause to overcome these fallacies. So, he added one. Gensler's GR reads as follows: "Treat others only as you consent to being treated in the same situation."

This is where St. Francis of Assisi enters into the discussion. Gensler is an expert on the GR and its history. According to Gensler, St. Francis of Assisi may have been the first person to use the GR with a same-situation clause. (St. Francis certainly was the first Franciscan to do so!) 

Below are the citations I found in St. Francis' writings. I have italicized the same-situation clause when St. Francis uses it. All of St. Francs' GR quotes can be found in Volume 1 of Francis of Assisi: Early Documents (FAED).

• "And let him have and show mercy to each of his brothers as he would want them to do to him were he in a similar position." 2 LtF 43; FAED Vol.1, pg. 48
• "Let them behave among themselves according to what the Lord says: Do to others what you would have them do to you; and Do not do to another what you would not have done to you." ER 4:4; FAED Vol.1, pg. 66
• "Let the minister, on his part, endeavor to provide for them as he would wish to be provided for him were he in a similar position." ER 6:2; FAED Vol. 1, pg. 68
• "Let each one confidently make known his need to another that the other might discover what is needed and minister to him." ER 10:1; FAED Vol. 1, pg. 71
• "And let the custodian provide for him with mercy as he would wish to be provided for were he in a similar position." Lt Min 17; FAED Vol. 1, pg. 98
• "When any brother falls sick, the other brothers must serve him as they would wish to be served themselves." LR 6:9; FAED Vol. 1, pg. 103
• "Blessed is the person who support his neighbor in his weakness as he would want to be supported were he in a similar situation." Adm 18:1; FAED Vol. 1, pg. 134

However, the same-situation clause is not enough. To use the GR wisely, Gensler recommends four additional factors that should be considered: KITA (Know-Imagine-Test-Act):

1. Know: "How would my action affect others?"
2. Imagine: "What would it be like to have this done to me in the same situation?"
3. Test for consistency:  "Am I now willing that if I were in the same situation then this be done to me?"
4. Act toward others only as you are willing to be treated in the same situation.

The GR has always been a useful guide for interactions with others. With the addition of the same-situation clause and KITA, the GR becomes even more useful.