George Gulliver
and Impartiality ” points out that impartiality is impractical and can be immoral . We can see the problems as we start to examine the golden rule of Christianity in how it works within modern life . The golden rule states roughly that you should ‘ do unto others as you would do to yourself ’, but what does this actually entail ? The implication and how most people will understand this maxim is to treat everyone with basic humanity and respect because , after all , that ’ s how you expect to be treated . However , this representation of the golden rule is condemned to be superficial . Cottingham points out that “ If I am to love my neighbour as myself , then the improvement of his opportunities , or the quality of his life , must have an equal claim on my energy and resources .” ( Cottingham , 1983 ). We can see here that the golden rule , when examined closer , is quickly reduced to impracticality . The same problem arises when we ascribe a secular principle of impartiality to the moral agent . A doctrine of impartial globalism is put forward by Peter Singer in his 1979 book “ Practical
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Ethics ”. He alludes to the idea that ‘ self-interested ’ actions can be opposed to ‘ moral ’ actions , writing ; “ When Macbeth , contemplating the murder of Duncan , admits that only ‘ vaulting ambition ’ drives him to do it , he is admitting that the act cannot be justified ethically . ‘ So that I can be king in his place ’ is not a weak attempt at ethical justification for assassination , it is not the sort of reason that counts as an ethical justification at all .” ( Singer , 1979 ). Singer is misled here , confusing a self-interested act with an act of murder . The immoral aspect of Macbeth ’ s murderous act is not as such because it is self-interested , but immoral because it is an act of murder . Cottingham rephrases Macbeth ’ s predicament to fit a modern context , by imagining that Macbeth is moving out of his inner-city apartment and , legally and non-violently , moving into Duncan ’ s , much more pleasant , suburban house with the reason for this move to improve his quality of life ( Cottingham , 1983 ). Singer ’ s critique of Macbeth ’ s selfinterested murder does not translate when placed in the latter-day context . It is not clear