I tend towards the view that people aren't good or bad. I guess I don't even buy that actions can be intrinsically good or bad in any way. Maybe that removes me from the pool of people that can comment on your original question.
Effectively, I like Jenny A's characterization of it as a practical, rather than deep, definition. It's useful to us to describe as bad someone who has a history of doing a lot of things that negatively impacted others, because it simultaneously 1) allows us to convey a prediction that any future behavior by that person is likely to negatively impact people as well, and 2) express our own judgments about what constitutes a good or bad action, thus suggesting to others a course of action that we desire them to take, so as to positively benefit ourselves.
Ugh that was a (probably nonsensical) mouthful, but what I'm trying to say is that "good" and "bad" are descriptions, I think, of what we think other people should do. Thus, whether a person is "good" or "bad" can only be defined subjectively.
Effectively, I like Jenny A's characterization of it as a practical, rather than deep, definition. It's useful to us to describe as bad someone who has a history of doing a lot of things that negatively impacted others, because it simultaneously 1) allows us to convey a prediction that any future behavior by that person is likely to negatively impact people as well, and 2) express our own judgments about what constitutes a good or bad action, thus suggesting to others a course of action that we desire them to take, so as to positively benefit ourselves.
Ugh that was a (probably nonsensical) mouthful, but what I'm trying to say is that "good" and "bad" are descriptions, I think, of what we think other people should do. Thus, whether a person is "good" or "bad" can only be defined subjectively.
How will we know, when the morning comes, we are still human? - 2D
Don't worry, my friend. If this be the end, then so shall it be.
Don't worry, my friend. If this be the end, then so shall it be.
