Since childhood, we know a lot of seemingly simple, lengthy, ambiguous ethical categories. The concept of "good" is one of them. What is the essence of this category and is a person able to always correspond to it? Understanding this is not so easy.
The meaning of the word "good"
It is difficult to find a concept with as many different meanings, each of which is positive. It’s worth starting with the most extensive.
From a philosophical point of view, good is one of the most important ethical categories used to characterize positive moral values. It exists in opposition to the concept of evil and expresses a selfless and sincere desire to perform a good deed in favor of another person.
The explanatory dictionary of the Russian language calls good that "brings happiness, benefit and prosperity." You can also meet the definition of "good deed." In addition, we call good personal property and things. In the Old Slavic alphabet, one of the letters was also named that way.
It should be noted that only what was done intentionally can be considered true good. Successful combination of circumstances or simple thoughts without an act, as philosophers say, do not belong to this category.
What is included in the concept of "good"
You can look at any of the ethical categories in two ways. So, in the philosophy of hedonism, it is believed that good is pleasure and all the ways leading to its receipt. Representatives of the school of utilitarianism include in this category everything that is useful to man. Relativistic ethics, in contrast to all other teachings, calls good a deeply subjective concept that exists only in our minds. In their opinion, what is considered good is what is good for us.
The closest to understanding can be considered the concept of goodness that was laid in us in childhood itself - by the forces of parents, society and religion.
It is worth understanding what is included in this concept: good thoughts and deeds in favor of the people around us, sincerity and disinterestedness, that which changes the world for the better and causes a positive assessment of society.
Why do good? First of all, for yourself: for peace of mind, joy, a sense of pleasure from your actions. Deserving the “good” characterization, a person expresses his high moral qualities and is sensitive to the problems of those around him. Each of us should strive for this.
The concept of "good" in Orthodoxy
Religion interprets this concept in the same plane as philosophy. The Bible calls us to do good, calling so not only any creative work, but also thoughts and words. Unlike evil, it creates, loves, helps, pleases and forgives. Good conquers good, it is peaceful and holy. To give oneself to good works is to act according to the will of God. This is the main answer to the question why do good. No wonder this category in the Orthodox religion ascends to the ideal that every person is supposed to follow.
Also, this concept is considered too abstract. Knowing only the definition of good, it is difficult to understand how to apply it in each individual life situation. That is why, priests call, even from school, you need to explain the essence of this category to children with simple and understandable examples.
Why do good? Orthodoxy gives its answer: in order to give his love to the world around him and to illuminate the life path by deeds pleasing to God.
Why do good?
Are people thinking about this issue? Most often, when doing something good, a person simply wants to experience pleasure and see smiles on the faces of those whom he helped.
Psychologists say that we like to receive kindness rather than give it away. We want respect, love, help, understanding. How to get it? The secret is simple: a person must do good himself. And they will answer love with love, understanding with understanding. This is the basic rule of a happy life in our world.
Many do not understand why to do good, if all the same there is falsehood and deceit all the same. But you can’t change anything else. Only by the power of our disinterested good aspirations and a pure heart can the ice wall of indifference and the widespread blind desire for profit be broken. Everything is in our hands!
