I advocate an unusual approach to these topics based what I see as a foundational principle in Scripture: Holy Self-Interest.
The principle says:
“It is always in your rational self-interest to do the right thing.”
Rightly understood, self-interest and morality are inseparable. The right thing is the right thing because it leads to your own rational self-interest.
Today I continue to look at the answers various friends gave when I asked, “What does good mean?”
Answer #2. Good means being loving and considerate toward other people.
Here is Part 2 of my informal survey, asking “what does good mean?”
Answer #3. Good means “pleasing.”
I informally surveyed my friends and asked:
What does good mean? How do we determine if something is good? What is “goodness” in your own words? What is the standard?
Left in the rain! A favorite book—ruined.
It was a growing-up experience for many book lovers, accidentally ruining a prized book. And how does it feel? The feeling is sadness, but also moral guilt.
I’ve been writing about the concept of “goodness,” and today I would like to look at a special aspect of goodness: morality.
