You might find it helpful to distinguish between what is "good" and "virtue." In so doing you can talk about what those desired ends that are beneficial to civil society and contribute to the well being of the self and those we love. These things we can call goods, things like health, wealth, and happiness. And if one is so inclined you can extend this idea to a Platonic highest good or "The Good".
With respect to virtue, I prefer Aristotle's "Golden Mean" in which one seeks to maintain an ideal level of a certain character trait. The example he uses is courage. A lack of courage is cowardice, but and excess of courage is foolhardiness. This idea can be extended to other character traits like generosity. While a lack of generosity is stinginess, its excess can also be harmful both to self (if you make yourself and your family poor) or to others (if your support enables others to continue destructive habits).
With respect to virtue, I prefer Aristotle's "Golden Mean" in which one seeks to maintain an ideal level of a certain character trait. The example he uses is courage. A lack of courage is cowardice, but and excess of courage is foolhardiness. This idea can be extended to other character traits like generosity. While a lack of generosity is stinginess, its excess can also be harmful both to self (if you make yourself and your family poor) or to others (if your support enables others to continue destructive habits).
