Posts: 23918
Threads: 300
Joined: June 25, 2011
Reputation:
151
What is GOOD?
February 24, 2013 at 1:29 pm
(This post was last modified: February 24, 2013 at 1:31 pm by Whateverist.)
One sentence in a post by Frodo, who I esteem highly, has got me thinking about what we think is "good" in relation to our actions. My initial impressions are included in the reply I made there which I've also copied below. Most theists, I suspect, like Kant would consider a "good" action one that requires a deliberate intent. One has done "good" when duty and not sentiment (nor any other gratification) is the reason for ones action. Intuitively I have always balked at this notion. This sense of "good" arises out of a desire to codify what originates in empathy. But to my mind it twists our nature in a way I find unhealthy and not at all "good". I wonder what others think about what counts as good in the realm of human actions.
(February 24, 2013 at 11:43 am)fr0d0 Wrote: Yes I disagree that you can be as good as is possible with a positive world view with a neutral world view. This is quite simple to see.
I Wrote:This is a little puzzling for me. Is it good to do good? Sometimes yes. But can there be an excess of good? If someone thinks incessantly about what is good and spends every waking moment attempting to do what he has decided is good .. is that a life well spent? (Would it be for you?)
I think that I am neutral on the value of the good. Most of the actions I do which what others might describe as "good" are from empathy. I don't act on empathy for any 'pleasure' that gives me. Nor do I do it out of any desire to act in accordance with any moral code of which I am aware. I do it for its own sake. It is a natural inclination which I neither thwart nor attribute to any higher purpose.
Is it better to do good things because we have decided they are good and we do them out of a sense of duty to the good? I don't think so.
Posts: 66329
Threads: 140
Joined: June 28, 2011
Reputation:
160
RE: What is GOOD?
February 24, 2013 at 1:45 pm
(This post was last modified: February 24, 2013 at 1:50 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
Good, who cares? But best? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
-Like you, I suspect that allowing our empathy to drive what we consider to be "good" is tenuous for the purposes of making an absolute determination. This allows for a range of "good" as broad (and potentially contradictory) as the range of human empathy. Personally, though, I'm okay with that, as I'm not an absolutist - nor do I require that any concept of "good" be absolute, nor do I require that moral or emotional descriptions of things like "good" be non-contradictory. I'm okay with working from agreement when agreement is the most pragmatic course of action (even this allows wiggle room doesn't it - who doesn't like a little wiggling?).
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
Posts: 23918
Threads: 300
Joined: June 25, 2011
Reputation:
151
RE: What is GOOD?
February 24, 2013 at 1:54 pm
(February 24, 2013 at 1:45 pm)Rhythm Wrote: Good, who cares? But best? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
-Like you, I suspect that allowing our empathy to drive what we consider to be "good" is tenuous for the purposes of making an absolute determination. This allows for a range of "good" as broad (and potentially contradictory) as the range of human empathy. Personally, though, I'm okay with that, as I'm not an absolutist - nor do I require that any concept of "good" be absolute, nor do I require that moral or emotional descriptions of things like "good" be non-contradictory. I'm okay with working from agreement when agreement is the most pragmatic course of action (even this allows wiggle room doesn't it - who doesn't like a little wiggling?).
Looks like we pretty much agree on all of this, though I have to say I find all that lamentation pretty annoying while I'm raping the wives of the vanquished.
Posts: 6301
Threads: 78
Joined: May 14, 2011
Reputation:
82
RE: What is GOOD?
February 24, 2013 at 3:38 pm
It's easy to know what feels 'good'. But doing 'good'? I cannot say. I don't think there's any action that can only bring 'good', there will always be some' bad' impact that you could not foresee. Because of this I try to keep it simple and not over-think it. Did I make someone's day better by smiling and being courteous at work? Yes? Then it's good enough for me.
When I was young, there was a god with infinite power protecting me. Is there anyone else who felt that way? And was sure about it? but the first time I fell in love, I was thrown down - or maybe I broke free - and I bade farewell to God and became human. Now I don't have God's protection, and I walk on the ground without wings, but I don't regret this hardship. I want to live as a person. -Arina Tanemura
Posts: 367
Threads: 9
Joined: February 18, 2013
Reputation:
8
RE: What is GOOD?
February 24, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Good is like porn. You may not be able to describe it, but when it comes your way, you recognize it. Of course, someone looking over your shoulder might say "You call THAT porn?"
“I've done everything the Bible says — even the stuff that contradicts the other stuff!"— Ned Flanders
Posts: 6301
Threads: 78
Joined: May 14, 2011
Reputation:
82
RE: What is GOOD?
February 24, 2013 at 3:49 pm
EGross, do you mind if I steal that line and quote you in my signature? 
When I was young, there was a god with infinite power protecting me. Is there anyone else who felt that way? And was sure about it? but the first time I fell in love, I was thrown down - or maybe I broke free - and I bade farewell to God and became human. Now I don't have God's protection, and I walk on the ground without wings, but I don't regret this hardship. I want to live as a person. -Arina Tanemura
Posts: 5172
Threads: 364
Joined: September 25, 2012
Reputation:
61
RE: What is GOOD?
February 24, 2013 at 3:53 pm
(This post was last modified: February 24, 2013 at 3:53 pm by Something completely different.)
What is good depends alot on the person who is making the judgement.
There are various different versions of what is good.
Posts: 1601
Threads: 2
Joined: January 2, 2013
Reputation:
32
RE: What is GOOD?
February 24, 2013 at 3:54 pm
What is love?
Posts: 6301
Threads: 78
Joined: May 14, 2011
Reputation:
82
RE: What is GOOD?
February 24, 2013 at 3:54 pm
Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more 
When I was young, there was a god with infinite power protecting me. Is there anyone else who felt that way? And was sure about it? but the first time I fell in love, I was thrown down - or maybe I broke free - and I bade farewell to God and became human. Now I don't have God's protection, and I walk on the ground without wings, but I don't regret this hardship. I want to live as a person. -Arina Tanemura
Posts: 367
Threads: 9
Joined: February 18, 2013
Reputation:
8
RE: What is GOOD?
February 24, 2013 at 3:55 pm
(February 24, 2013 at 3:49 pm)Kayenneh Wrote: EGross, do you mind if I steal that line and quote you in my signature?
No problemo! 
“I've done everything the Bible says — even the stuff that contradicts the other stuff!"— Ned Flanders
|
