What is "Good"?

In a previous thread I asked the question: Is God good???

Many people responded asking what I meant by "good"

And I was not quite not sure how I'd define it as it is such a basic concept it is nothing I've ever thought about

A quick look at wikipedia says that it is:

the conduct that should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions. Good is generally considered to be the opposite of evil, and is of interest in the study of morality, ethics, religion and philosophy.

So - is good an adherence to a rule that is positively valued?

Or is a thing good if it has good consequences?

Is God good because he embodies certain virtues? Or because he does a lot of good in the world?

Or is "good" something else?

How would you define it?

What is "good"???

Bonus question: And why is God good???

Eddi said:

What is "good"???

Bonus question: And why is God good???

Click to expand...

What is 'good' is that which serves the 'gift of being' beyond simply maintaining it.

And "God is good" according to my concept of God simply because I choose to hold that ideal. I find that it serves me better than any other option I am aware of.

I'm told that `God` can do everything at once, and He does no bad
is that right?
just asking.

Eddi said:

In a previous thread I asked the question: Is God good???

Many people responded asking what I meant by "good"

And I was not quite not sure how I'd define it as it is such a basic concept it is nothing I've ever thought about

A quick look at wikipedia says that it is:

the conduct that should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions. Good is generally considered to be the opposite of evil, and is of interest in the study of morality, ethics, religion and philosophy.

So - is good an adherence to a rule that is positively valued?

Or is a thing good if it has good consequences?

Is God good because he embodies certain virtues? Or because he does a lot of good in the world?

Or is "good" something else?

How would you define it?

What is "good"???

Bonus question: And why is God good???

Click to expand...

""Form of the Good", or more literally "the idea of the good" (ἡ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ ἰδέα) is a concept in the philosophy of Plato. It is described in Plato's dialogue the Republic (508e2–3), speaking through the character of Socrates. This form is the one that allows a philosopher-in-training to advance to a philosopher-king. It cannot be clearly seen or explained, but it is the form that allows one to realize all the other forms. The definition of the Good is a perfect, eternal, and changeless Form, existing outside space and time, in which particular good things share."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form_of_the_Good

Eddi said:

How would you define it?

Click to expand...

I would define it the following way:

"Something that is considered beneficial to someone or something from their point of view."

Eddi said:

What is "good"???

Click to expand...

Good is anything we have convinced ourselves of is beneficial and therefore subjective.

Eddi said:

Bonus question: And why is God good???

Click to expand...

This have several answers I think.

1. Following the definition above, God is considered good by some because that is what they have been convinced he is.

2. (Religious view - biblical) God is good because the bible say he is the only one that is good and that he is good to all. Therefore God decide what is good and what is not.

Psalms 145:9
9 - The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

So people should stop complaining about bad things I guess, because it is good!

What is considered good very much is historical and cultural. Cooking and eating enemies was considered good in many places, for example. Sacrificing children in order to appease the gods was considered good.

So to me the question becomes "is there a 'good' which is universally true that is not dependent on culture and current ethical standards?"

Eddi said:

...
What is "good"???

Bonus question: And why is God good???

Click to expand...

My opinion is: Good is to love others. God is good,because He loves even His enemies and doesn't do anything evil.

But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
Mat. 5:44-45

Eddi said:

In a previous thread I asked the question: Is God good???

Many people responded asking what I meant by "good"

And I was not quite not sure how I'd define it as it is such a basic concept it is nothing I've ever thought about

A quick look at wikipedia says that it is:

the conduct that should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions. Good is generally considered to be the opposite of evil, and is of interest in the study of morality, ethics, religion and philosophy.

So - is good an adherence to a rule that is positively valued?

Or is a thing good if it has good consequences?

Is God good because he embodies certain virtues? Or because he does a lot of good in the world?

Or is "good" something else?

How would you define it?

What is "good"???

Bonus question: And why is God good???

Click to expand...

I define good as the set of actions, behaviors and intentions that decrease suffering and increase well being among sentient beings that are affected by such actions/behaviors/intentions. Seems the best way to define good in my opinion.

Acts of kindness, the virtues, all those things are good. You can subjectively make of those things what you wish, but there are objective meanings to those things that translate to intentions that form actions. Good is a general term denoting those intentions that bring forth those actions.

So while people can criticize, or dislike the actions as not good, the intentions are still there if they are there. Goodness is just general qualities of character. You may not like my honesty and compassion, and how I choose to manifest it, but if I'm being honest and compassionate, kind and considerate, understanding and polite, then that is goodness.
By being these things you can call it bad, but you'd be wrong.