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kk, this was something that I was asked, so to understand it completely, ima going to write the preface, then my actual answer...
[ Plato argued that if one were able to know which is 'good', that he or she would necessarily do that which is 'good'. What is 'the Good'? How do we discover what is 'giid'? And do you agree with the notion that if we know 'the good' we will do the good? Why or why not? Should we...look for and do 'the Good'? Why or why not?]
“What is the ‘Good’?” I honestly believe there is no ‘Good’. Good is defined by personal beliefs and biases that possibly conform to the standards set by society. If defining ‘good’ by those standards, I suppose the definition would include the betterment of society by saying actions like killing or robbing is ‘bad’. And by not doing those ‘bad’ things, society wants you to believe you are doing ‘good’.
Then there are those that don’t conform to the social standard and completely define ‘good’ as something different. ‘Good’ could be appeasing personal desires and impulses, or whatever else an individual may think it is. Depending on the environment of being raised, this can also change how a person comes to believe what is good and what is bad. This is why I believe there is no ‘Good’. There are too many possibilities, even if there is a large majority that has similar beliefs, and the minority can’t be discounted either. A question can be asked whether or not the majority of people are just accepting the things that they are told, by society, no less, or if they really have questioned what it is that they truly believe is ‘the Good’.
To discover what ‘good’ is, then you would have to find your personal belief about it. In general, though, I believe we will do the ‘good’, whatever it may be to us. I believe this because it gives a sense of accomplishment, and another reason to continue living. When I say accomplishment, I mean you have satisfied others or yourself for whatever you say is good, and another reason for living meaning you can continue doing what you have done for ‘the Good’.
Now, on the question if we should do ‘the Good’, I believe that we should not. Considering every view on what is good, there is no way the supposed ‘good’ can be accommodated to full extent. If everybody was given the freedom to do what they believe is good, all that would do is create more chaos in an already disorderly world. Those whose beliefs of ‘good’ that contradict each other, could possibly end up fighting, and in the end, what then would be the most correct ‘good’?
 Kayoran · Fri Oct 24, 2008 @ 12:02am · 3 Comments |
