What is good?

Question

Thanks for all your answers. Have a great day!

Answer 1

The good and evil that we see don't even exist in reality, at least not outside of the mind that believes in them. They are only judgments passed by the individual from their own unique perspective. What one person sees as bad or evil may seem to be the only logical thing to do from some other perspective. The ideas of both good and evil are point of view specific. This is why people like bush and bin laden are either loved or hated. Bush is seen as good by people who share his fear based thought system. Those who have a compassionate concern for all of mankind often see him as evil.

Bin laden is much the same. He is a villain in much of the western world, but he is somewhat of a celebrated pop star on the Middle East. There are T-shirt shops that sell items with his picture as though he was Jesus. It all depends on your point of view or perspective.

To sum it all up good is the name we give to people who do things that we think we like.

Evil is the name we give to people who do the things that we don’t like.

This is of course based solely on our particular point of view.

Love and blessings

Don

Answer 2

As a human being, I am biased in favor of my species.

That which helps the human race survive and advance is good. That which hinders this, is bad.

Negative examples: Racism, nationalism, and capitalism prevent us from cooperating, and cooperation is needed for species survival. Thus, they are bad.

Positive examples: Science and scholarship help us understand the way the universe works, and allows us to take actions for survival. Ecological balance allows room for us in the biosphere to live. Unions allow us to fight the negative forces in society for working people to get the resources and conditions they need to have a good life. Thus these things are good.

CHRISTOPHER THEORY - PLEASE explain what you have against Stephen Hawking!!! Sure, he's way over-rated as a thinker, and even spouts some obvious nonsense, but really - saying his absence is an example of good? He's a decent enough person. Why do you hate him? Did he run his wheelchair over your foot at a physics lecture or something?

Answer 3

Good question.

The "perfect goodness that is god" is a quote that applies to your question. Each of us has a part to play in the greater/divine good but most never transition out of their little conditioned defensive identity enough to achieve that authentic being and purpose. There is no good unless it is integral to that larger divine whole. God/Reality, being a mirror of the contents of consciousness, is dependent on humanity's pursuit of the larger - yet common - divine good through which transformation occurs.

Answer 4

I agree with Don H, but think that regarding all perspectives as equally valid leads to nihilism. If everything is subjective, we must affirm our own subjective tastes (taste is more profound than opinion). In another question, you asked if love was eugenic. *Eu* means "good" in ancient Greek. So what I love is good, what I hate is bad. I must qualify this statement, though. What I hate is only bad if this hatred is an expression of disgust (like the Latin *odium*, cognate with "odour" - it originally meant the hatred or disgust of a bad smell). If it is an expression of envy, the person I hate need not be bad, because to be enviable means to be in some way admirable. So we must beware as soon as we are inclined to think of the hated person as "evil"; for then our hatred may well be an expression of envy, of resentment. Likewise, our love should be love of energy, not love of ease (sloth). So far my qualification of my statement.

If what I love is good, this means that I am the measure of things. As Nietzsche says;

"In the beautiful, man posits himself as the measure of perfection; in special cases he worships himself in it. A species *cannot* do otherwise but thus affirm itself alone. Its *most basic* instinct, that of self-preservation and self-expansion, still radiates in such sublimities."
[Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols, Skirmishes, 19.]

Answer 5

The opposite of bad. They are not really opposite, for one must exist, for the other to be known. Great Day back at ya!

Answer 6

There is no good and no bad;good and bad exist because our universe is dual ,We exist in a realm of polarities, Subjective and objective;
And so on...basically good is both the opposite of bad, as well as identical to it
example:
I think world peace is good., President X thinks it bad.
I think Stephen Hawking is a bad news. People say he's good....
Good is a sand trap full of bad. It's a fun thing to think about. My bad is a sociopath's good...creepy stuff, poor Santa
Let's commit a blasphemy and define good: Good: anything tangible, intangible, incomprehensible and/or devoid of sharp or combustible components, capable of bringing happiness through means devoid of violence-murder-genocide-most importantly, Stephen Hawking.

Answer 7

Hi Third P.

What is good?

Good is possessing or displaying moral virtue. It is that which is morally right. It is being kind-hearted, thoughtful & generous. It is being polite, courteous & respectful.
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Possessing desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end designed; promoting success, welfare, or happiness; serviceable; useful; fit; excellent; admirable; commendable; not bad, corrupt, evil, noxious, offensive, or troublesome, etc.

Possessing moral excellence or virtue; virtuous; pious; religious.

Kind; benevolent; humane; merciful; gracious; polite; propitious; friendly; well-disposed.

Serviceable; suited; adapted; suitable; of use; to be relied upon.

Clever; skillful; dexterous; ready; handy.

That which possesses desirable qualities, promotes success, welfare, or happiness, is serviceable, fit, excellent, kind, benevolent, etc.; -- opposed to evil.

Advancement of interest or happiness; welfare; prosperity; advantage; benefit; -- opposed to harm, etc.
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There are many definitions of good, when it comes to people. However, the bottom line is that a good person is one who has the best interests of others in his/her mind & heart. It is a virtue in one who wants to see the betterment of humankind.

Good is a virtue to which we should all strive.

Peace.

Answer 8

An abstract noun for all those things the Will is ready to accept, and having accepted each, the Judgments action to reject of them when of them it identifies a negative fact in them, judging each in turn as each fact becomes item for their conscious existence and then finding a different use for them, a good purpose. 'Thing' is an abstract noun for sensible and non-sensible existants becoming conscious fact, 'things' the plural form meaning more than one thing.

Some examples of learned good after actions of the Judgment:

hope- Basic Trust vs. Mistrust

will- Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

purpose- Initiative vs. Guilt

competence- Industry vs. Inferiority

fidelity- Identity vs. Role Confusion

love (in intimate relationships, work and family)- Intimacy vs. Isolation

caring- Generativity vs. Stagnation

wisdom- Integrity vs. Despair

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erick_Erickson

The Will is positive, the Judgment is negative. The Judgment reacts to pain and even though the mind may be led to incoherence, the road from insanity leads reliably back to real pain.

Answer 9

Having loving children
Siblings that care for you.
Pets that love you unconditionally,
Friends in the real world and the cyber one.

Answer 10

I truly, truly wanted to answer this, but as I seldom do, I looked at the answers first.
Isn't Don H fantastic? I don't see how anyone could possibly top him, & just felt compelled to say this.