Come, let us embark on a journey to understand ourselves and the universe.
At the very core of our thoughts lie two primal concepts: "Good" and "Bad." These fundamental notions form the basis of all our choices and actions. Yet, we often utter these weighty expressions without truly comprehending their profound meanings. Like infants babbling, we speak of "good" and "bad" routinely and reflexively, often without pausing to contemplate their true significance.
So, what exactly does "good" mean?
If the answer to that question doesn't immediately spring to the forefront of your consciousness, you may be misunderstanding not only yourself but also the very essence of reality. In such cases, it might be wise to refrain from using words you can't define. The gravest error is to misconstrue the idea that resides at the core of your being. To achieve wholeness and act in truth, we must grasp the meanings of the words that inspire our souls. Otherwise, we risk labeling "good" as "evil" and "evil" as "good," speaking and acting in a state of bewildering confusion.
Let's trace the development of these ideas, the very shaping of a human being.
The duality of "good" and "bad" arises naturally and organically within us. Infants experience desire and aversion, basic animal states. Over time, these emotions become infused with a sense of value, and children learn to act based on judgment rather than instinct. As we mature, not much changes: for most people, life revolves around the pursuit of what they sense is good and the avoidance of what they sense is bad. Desire equals good, leading to pursuit, while aversion equals bad, leading to avoidance – these are the two surface equations of life.
This encapsulates human development briefly. However, we can go a step further, returning to the very roots of our souls. What underlies the essence of humanity? We must assume that our instinctual mental states are rooted in something tangible, something real – not mere phantasms. To discover this reality is to be able to evaluate the truth inherent in imprecise emotions and unreliable words.
So, what does it mean for something to be good or evil? And, relatedly, is the universe inherently good? If it is, how does evil exist?
"Good" can be understood as "as it ought to be." Goodness is a value judgment. There is no absolute good that exists independently of values; there is only good relative to an ideal of what ought to be. Anything – be it an item, event, or feeling – that aligns with how it ought to be is "good." Conversely, if it deviates from how it ought to be, it is "bad." Our innate sense of good essentially means this: this is as it ought to be, this is right.
So, what, then, ought to be? To know what is genuinely good, we must first determine what ought to be. And that can only be determined based on what is. What exists should be. The metric for what ought to be is what exists, for existence itself proclaims, through its very being, that it is as it ought to be. Existence, absolute and true, serves as the most compelling argument for value. Reverse-engineer the universe, and you will hear the divine word dictating its existence, declaring that it should come into being and commanding it to endure. The most fundamental notion we can hold about existence is that the universe is good, divine, partaking of the celestial quality of "should-ness."
Contemplating this sublime idea is nothing short of intoxicating. To utter the word "good" is to engage in profound mystery. When you perceive something as good, you perceive something fundamental about reality. Utter this word with the awe and purity it commands. To be unaware of its mystery is to misuse this sublime word, mindlessly vocalizing sounds that fill the world with unnecessary noise, much like a brute trained to mimic human speech.
But what about "evil"? Does it hold real meaning? Can we truly label something as "wrong"? What is, ought to be – which suggests that everything made is good and evil is non-existent, for what ought not to be, cannot be. Where, then, does evil fit into a universe that we deem good?
To understand this, we’ll have to think deeper into the notion of existence. Yes, everything that is, ought to be, but in a certain way: in the nature that it exists. Reality is not arbitrary, but rather follows rules, a certain nature of being. That nature is the ultimate reality, the real root of existence. If the ultimate reality is misunderstood, existence is attributed to that which doesn’t exist, and that is evil: what is not masquerading as what is.
For example, imagine a person who idealizes pleasure, considering it the bedrock value around which all of life revolves. This idea is false, hence evil. It is unreal and at odds with existence (this person will probably eventually learn the hard way to repudiate his fantasy) but is thought to be real.
"Evil" is the result of being human. With the capacity to recognize goodness comes the ability to conjure any false "ought-to-be" – the shadowy, demonic counterpart to the inherent goodness of existence. You can think about things in any way you please. Approach the universe with an unbiased perspective, and you will comprehend it on its own terms, aligning your actions with what is and knowing with certainty what you ought to do. However, if you generate a different understanding of what is, a theory of existence based on your particular biases or desires, you will live in an illusion. The power to choose, and consequently, the power to generate evil, lies within you.
Being yourself comes with risks: any value you believe in seems to exist. From your viewpoint, your own perspective appears to exist as much as any other, and thus, it ought to be, making it unmitigated good. The person who enjoys smoking tobacco may struggle to perceive their own desire as the evil it truly is, and the greedy person believes in greed. One might argue that since any perspective is real, it is inherently good. But humanity occupies a unique position in existence; we have the ability to transcend and repudiate our own viewpoints. Therefore, our thoughts do not exist as independent sources of reality and goodness; instead, they are contingent and chosen, not determinants of what exists, but products thereof.
To evaluate goodness, ask yourself: does this feeling align with the universal "ought-to-be," or does it merely align with a fleeting and ephemeral ideal, a man-made fantasy? Test every thought for its value and train your tongue to use language in truth. By doing so, you will come to understand what is truly good and, consequently, what you ought to do.
Speak the truth and become a complete human being; confront evil and embrace goodness to attain the greatest pleasure – becoming what ought to be, being right.
The world is at its richest when seen through the lens of good and evil. I hope this essay enables you to perceive it in this light.
Sources and references:
Genesis 1:2
Ibid., 1:31
Ibid., 3:5-6
Isaiah 5:20
Psalms 33:9
Beautiful and well-expressed, but I believe that you stopped short. You write:
The metric for what ought to be is what exists, for that which exists proclaims, by virtue of its very being, that it is as it ought to be, existence, which is absolute and true, being the most compelling argument of value.
And:
The metric for what ought to be is what exists, for that which exists proclaims, by virtue of its very being, that it is as it ought to be, existence, which is absolute and true, being the most compelling argument of value.
And:
To test of goodness, ask: is this feeling consistent with the universal ought-to-be, or only with a fleeting and ephemeral ideal, a man-made fantasy?
But does tobacco, and the pleasure that it provides, not truly exist? Does greed, and the wealth that it may breed, not truly exist? Are they man-made phenomena? Certainly not! And, I might add that these pleasures and emotions are not inherently evil! If used correctly, they are good!
But the point must necessarily be taken back a step further. There is a Creator, and 'good' and 'evil' are determined by what is consistent with His design. 'Good' is what furthers the Creation, and 'evil' is what sets it back. The very same pleasures or motivations can be 'good' or 'evil,' depending on how they are used and for what they are intended. 'Good' is that which is in partnership with Him, and 'evil' is that which detracts from Him.
Very insightful explanation of how human *thoughts and values* influence perception of good and evil. I would love to read an explanation of how human *choice of action* affects this equation. But that sounds like Parshas Noach, while this essay reflects Bereishis. Thank you for sharing.