More On the Definition of Wronging Someone

[David Sklansky]

My previous definition was incomplete. I said it would be wrong to do something or omit doing something for someone, if you would consider yourself wronged if it was done to you. Walking through your house without taking your shoes off for instance. If you feel wronged when someone does that to you, you are wrong to do it to others. But there are additons and exceptions.

For instance if you know for a fact that the other guy doesn't care, or even prefers that you keep your shoes on, then you should, when you are in his house.

Also, you should not feel wronged if the other guy doesn't know your stance and does what he would want done to himself. Such as coming into your house with shoes.

BUT conversely you or he SHOULD feel wronged if the other guy does to you what he wouldn't want done to himself, as long as he is assuming you feel the same. So in this case if the other guy takes his shoes off to be more comfortable, under the (incorrect) assumption that you are like him and want guests to keep their shoes on, you should feel wronged even though he unwittingly acted in the way you prefer.

The above is not merely a theoretical exercise. It is the standards by which I treat and judge people I know, and should also be the standards that I believe whole coutnries should treat and judge each other by.

And, yes I realize that the concepts could be taken to a third level but I think that's a bit much to deal with.