Defining "good."

[A_C_Slater]

"To vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters." -- Genghis Khan [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

[carlo]

There is only the ONE GOOD and all men seek HIM. All intermediate states are the process of attaining Man's destiny which is the realization of this state.

The hindrances in this process are the strengthening of Man in order to attain his goal. The Buddha said that "All is Suffering" and he is right, but the redemption of this truth full state is the Christ in the being of Man.

carlo

[purnell]

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Good is that which is desired for its own sake.

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So if you want it, it is good?

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Bingo. Good is that which I want.

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do you have to accept the logical consequences of your desires?

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Yes, of course.

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Good is that which is desired for its own sake.
Discuss.

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You can't use this expression to claim that 'something I desire for it's own sake is good', that would be using circular logic.

For instance I can say 'A car is something that goes on wheels', but that does not imply that 'Something that goes on wheels is a car'.

So, even if your expression there is true it would not equate to 'Something I desire for it's own sake is good'.

And if the expression isn't meant to be logical, it is merely a semantical definition of a word...and then we would be reduced to arguing semantics...which isn't interesting, because the word good will probably have a different semantic meaning from invividual to individual and culture to culture. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Subfallen]

You guys are missing the key facet of my definition. Let me repeat myself, with emphasis:

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Good is that which is desired for its own sake.

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This does NOT mean that everything desired is good. Rather, most of human desire is a function of how the desired thing may be consumed, possessed, or abused for pleasure.

Later on, I will elaborate further; no time now.

[hmkpoker]

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Good is that which increases happiness(*) and/or decreases suffering(*).

(*) "Happiness" means not just pleasure, but joy, peace, contentment, and well-being. Suffering is the opposite of that.

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*writes retort*

*deletes retort*

Good answer. I don't think I can come up with anything better than that.

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You guys are missing the key facet of my definition. Let me repeat myself, with emphasis:

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Good is that which is desired for its own sake.

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I can't think of many things that would be "good" according to your definition. Most of the things I desire, are not for their own sake, but for some other purpose. Can you give a few examples of things that would be "good" according to your definition?

Thanks.