The Platinum Rule (Golden Rule variation)

The Platinum Rule is a variation on the Golden Rule, variations of which are widely described in religious texts. The Golden Rule states we should do onto others as we would do onto ourselves. The Platinum Rule states we should do onto others as they would do onto themselves.

The origins of the rule are unclear. Karl Popper wrote: "The golden rule is a good standard which can perhaps even be improved by doing unto others, wherever possible, as they would be done by" (The Open Society and Its Enemies, Vol. 2, 1966 [1945], p. 386). Various philosophers (Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche) have also objected because really knowing how someone likes to be treated requires perfect understanding.

The premise of the Golden rule is that other people have the same feelings and preferences as yourself. This premise is flawed, as people experience conflict over their preferences and feelings all the time.

Relation to the Silver Rule

The inverse of the Golden Rule is also called the Silver Rule, and is in general more useful: don't do unto others as you would not do onto yourself. Most unpleasant feelings are quite universal, and so it can be concluded that it's usually safe to not inflict something on others you wouldn't like yourself. A rule that only states things to avoid is also less likely to result in conflict with others. However, it cannot be used as a moral compass, since it doesn't guide actions, but only inaction.

The Platinum Rule itself is useful as a personal moral compass, but is unable to guide society, since it leaves the rule open to any individual choice of actions. Otherwise stated, the platinum rule can't be converted to a list of things to do onto others, where the Golden Rule (in theory) could.