“When we decide what to do, we in effect proclaim our wish that our conduct be made into a "universal law." Therefore when a rational being decides to treat people in a certain way he decrees that in his judgement, this is the way people ought to be treated. Thus if we treat him the same way in return we are doing nothing more than treating him as he has decided people are to be treated.”
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Quote Analysis
In this quote by James Rachels, he discusses the concept of moral universalizability. According to Rachels, when we make decisions about how to treat others, we are essentially declaring that our actions should be considered as a universal law that applies to everyone. This means that when we treat someone a certain way, we are expressing the belief that this is how all people should be treated. Therefore, if we reciprocate the treatment that someone has given us, we are simply adhering to their own moral standards. This quote emphasizes the importance of consistency and fairness in our moral judgments and actions.
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