Since childhood, we know a lot of seeminglysimple, voluminous, ambiguous ethical categories. The concept of "good" - one of them. What is the essence of this category and is a person always able to match her? To understand this is not so easy.
It is difficult to find a concept with the same large number of different values, each of which is positive. It is worth starting with the most extensive.
From a philosophical point of view, good is one ofmost important ethical categories used to characterize positive moral values. It exists in opposition to the concept of evil and expresses a disinterested and sincere desire to do a good deed in favor of another person.
The explanatory dictionary of the Russian language calls goodthat "brings happiness, benefits and well-being." You can also meet the definition of "good deed." In addition, we call good personal property and things. In the Old Slavic alphabet, moreover, this was the name of one of the letters.
It should be noted that true goodness canconsider only what was done intentionally. Good luck or simple thoughts without action, as philosophers say, do not belong to this category.
На любую из этических категорий можно смотреть in two ways. Thus, in the philosophy of hedonism, it is considered that good is pleasure and all the ways leading to its reception. Representatives of the school of utilitarianism include in this category all that is useful to man. Relativistic ethics, in contrast to all other teachings, calls good a deeply subjective concept that exists only in our consciousness. In their opinion, the good thing is what we ourselves consider to be so.
The concept of goodness that was laid in us of our very childhood can be considered as the closest to understand - by the forces of parents, society and religion.
It is worth understanding what is included in this concept:good thoughts and actions in favor of the people around us, sincerity and selflessness, that changes the world for the better and causes a positive assessment of society.
Why do good?First of all for myself: for peace of mind, joy, feelings of pleasure from their actions. Deserving the characteristic of "good", a person expresses his high moral qualities and is sensitive to the problems surrounding the heart. Each of us should strive for this.
Religion interprets this concept in the sameplane that philosophy. The Bible calls us to do good, calling so not only any creative deed, but also thoughts and words. Unlike evil, it creates, loves, helps, pleases and forgives. Good conquers with good, it is peaceful and holy. To give oneself to good deeds means to act according to the will of God. This is the main answer to the question why to do good. No wonder this category in the Orthodox religion ascends to the ideal, which is supposed to follow every person.
Also, this concept is considered too abstract.Knowing only the definition of good, it is difficult to understand how to apply it in every single life situation. That is why, the priests are calling, from the school bench it’s necessary to explain the essence of this category to children using simple and clear examples.
Why do good? Orthodoxy gives its answer: in order to give its love to the world around it and to illuminate the way of life with godly deeds.
Are people thinking about this issue? Most often, doing something good, a person just wants to experience pleasure and see the smiles on the faces of those whom he helped.
Psychologists say that we like morereceive kindness, not give it away. We want respect, love, help, understanding. How to get it? The secret is simple: a person must do good himself. And love will be answered by love, by understanding - by understanding. This is the basic rule of a happy life in our world.
Many do not understand why doing good, ifaround all the same false and deception. But otherwise nothing can be changed. Only the strength of one’s selfless good intentions and a pure heart can break the ice wall of indifference and the universal blind desire for profit. All in our hands!
Good is not only a central category of ethics, butand our whole life. Choosing the right path, making the right choice and at the same time following your heart is a whole art that you need to comprehend for many, many years. Consciousness comes with wisdom, and wisdom comes with experience, and this is the whole difficulty. Parents, elder friends, teachers, religion will help ease the process of finding good in yourself. Following the biblical commandments is the surest path to a life pleasing to God, full of good deeds and humility.
Why do good?To live life to the fullest, surround yourself with positive energy, help people. And most importantly, receive good in return. This is not a selfish desire based on personal gain. This is the normal nature of things, the law of being, the basis of the existence of our world.
