Four Way Test Open to Interpretation?

Posted by Cullen Linn

I read an interesting article today on the Rotary International website concerning the Four Way Test ("A new look at global ethics and The Four-Way Test"). The Four Way Test should be a key component to every Rotarian's public and private life, but like some of the commentators on the article I believe that how it is applied is open for interpretation.

First, take a glance at the Rotary International Article, and then review the comments that have been posted so far. Consider the application of the Four Way Test in your own life and ask yourself, "how do I define 'beneficial to all concerned' - how do I define 'fair to all concerned'?". Is fair or beneficial that which will ultimately benefit the individuals, the individuals' communities, the individuals' goals irrespective of their person, or the world at large (since all actions have an effect beyond those immediately concerned)? Taking different positions to this prompt may drastically alter our actions.

The answer that you will probably arrive at is that your religion or personal philosophy dictates to a great extent how you apply the Four Way Test since that is where we derive most of our moral and ethical standards. Does this mean that Rotary can not be applied across cultures with differing religious views, that we must be exclusive of those with differing religious viewpoints? I can not answer that, but I can say that we must universally define basic rules which provide a context for the Four Way Test, in a similar fashion that the United States Constitution was laid out or the Ten Commandments was created.

Once we establish our "Rotary Commandments" we can, independent of religion, include and serve those who abide by and believe in those standards.