The Golden rule and natural law

pp. 271-293

in: Hans Reiner, Duty and inclination the fundamentals of morality discussed and redefined with special regard to Kant and Schiller, Berlin, Springer, 1983

Abstract

As you well know, "the Golden Rule' is the name of that precept for the ordering and judgement of our conduct which is familiar in the German-speaking world as the adage, Whatever you do not want another to do to you, do not do to him (Was du nicht willst, daß man dir tu, das füg auch keinem andern zu). Since the 5th century this precept has been disseminated in highly diverse formulae throughout the principal civilized nations. The use of the name "Golden Rule' for it is demonstrable from the end of the 18th century, and appears to have started in England.