What IS good, and how do we determine it?

[Jenny A]

I think what is good has also been discussed rather endlessly in the Why be Good Thread as has how do we determine what is good.

I'll give you my rough answer.  First of all, though many philosophers have spilled tons of ink writing about various systems for determining what is good, I don't think that that's how people (even the philosophers) do it.  What is good is generally a gut feeling not a philosophical position.  The philosophy comes as a rationalization after the fact.

The gut feeling comes from empathy, and empathy is an inherited trait.  Sociopaths are born without it and they behave rather differently than the rest of us as a consequence.  The rest is cultural in the broad societal context and the smaller family context. Both secular and religious education are part of culture.  Because we are intelligent, we add a dash of reason to both empathy and culture.

Consequently, what is good depends on who you are, how you were raised, and where you are.  The Bible is often at odds with current morality, because we live in a rather different culture than the ancient Hebrews.