How do you define a good person or a bad person?

[Willamena]

Some say a person is good. Or bad. How do you figure good vs bad, or simply good and bad?

I don't define people as good or bad. People are far more complex than a simple judgment.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I don't define people as good or bad. People are far more complex than a simple judgment.

What about people who are just down right jerks?

 

[Kfox]

Some say a person is good. Or bad. How do you figure good vs bad, or simply good and bad?

Actions I find helpful I call good, actions I find harmful I call bad.

 

[DNB]

Some say a person is good. Or bad. How do you figure good vs bad, or simply good and bad?

Intent defines either good or bad. And the frequency in which a person acts in either a good or bad manner, defines the person.

We may do the right thing but for the wrong reason, and the wrong thing for the right reason - it is the heart behind the act that determines whether the person was acting in good will, or malevolently.

And, he who strives to constantly commit beneficial and benign acts, will be regarded as a good person - one who intends to do good deeds.
On the other hand, one who is selfish and takes no consideration as to how his actions affect others, will be deemed a bad person.

 

[idea]

​

Lawful/Neutral/Chaotic?
Good/Neutral/Evil? Neutral/Moral/Unprincipled?

1. Neutral Good: Characters who prioritize doing good deeds and helping others, but may not strictly follow laws or codes. They often seek to promote freedom, happiness, and well-being for all. Examples include compassionate healers, kind-hearted adventurers, or defenders of the weak.
2. True Neutral: Characters who are neutral on all axes, not favoring any alignment. They tend to prioritize balance and neutrality above all else. They might be observers, seekers of knowledge, or individuals who seek harmony between different factions or forces.
3. Chaotic Good: Characters who value personal freedom and individual rights while also striving to do good. They are often rebels or unconventional heroes who challenge authority or oppressive systems to help others. Examples include freedom fighters, charismatic tricksters, or champions of the oppressed.
4. Lawful Good: Characters who prioritize following laws, codes, and upholding order while also seeking to do good. They believe in justice, honor, and the greater good, and may work within established systems to achieve positive change. Examples include knights, paladins, or selfless defenders of law and order.

 

[Willamena]

What about people who are just down right jerks?

some of my best friends.

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

What if a person is incapable of thought from infancy on?

I don’t know… Are they moral subjects if they cannot take moral stands?

Humbly,
Hermit

 

[Kfox]

I don't define people as good or bad. People are far more complex than a simple judgment.

What does their complexity have to do with your ability to judge?

 

[Quintessence]

What does their complexity have to do with your ability to judge?

Complexity means it is less than appropriate to simplify the reality into a black-and-white or either-or binary.

Black-and-white thinking serves an important role in human cognition - perhaps most notably as important behavioral shorthands for day-to-day events where we need to engage in quick decision-making - but it has limitations. In particular, oversimplifying complex realities and replacing it with black-and-white polar options often creates personal and social dysfunction.

"Polarized, black-and-white thinking is a big problem. It distorts our understanding of realities involving shades of gray, which most human realities are. Binary thinking produces misleading maps of a complicated, nuanced world.​

​

When we face difficult situations, all-or-none thinking blinds us to the possibility of a middle ground, leaving us with only simple, extreme options that rarely work. This type of cognition results in maladaptive emotions and behaviors, an array of mental health diagnoses too numerous to mention, and in its milder and more common forms, all sorts of problems in living and relationships."​

From - How to Assess Black-&-White Thinking in Yourself and Others​

 

[YoursTrue]

I don’t know… Are they moral subjects if they cannot take moral stands?

Humbly,
Hermit

Good question. It might depend on who is taking care of them, but I cannot say.

 

[YoursTrue]

What does their complexity have to do with your ability to judge?

Interesting point because there are laws, supposedly to determine what is right or wrong and it can get a bit complex depending on situation.

 

[Kfox]

Complexity means it is less than appropriate to simplify the reality into a black-and-white or either-or binary.

Black-and-white thinking serves an important role in human cognition - perhaps most notably as important behavioral shorthands for day-to-day events where we need to engage in quick decision-making - but it has limitations. In particular, oversimplifying complex realities and replacing it with black-and-white polar options often creates personal and social dysfunction.

"Polarized, black-and-white thinking is a big problem. It distorts our understanding of realities involving shades of gray, which most human realities are. Binary thinking produces misleading maps of a complicated, nuanced world.​

​

When we face difficult situations, all-or-none thinking blinds us to the possibility of a middle ground, leaving us with only simple, extreme options that rarely work. This type of cognition results in maladaptive emotions and behaviors, an array of mental health diagnoses too numerous to mention, and in its milder and more common forms, all sorts of problems in living and relationships."​

From - How to Assess Black-&-White Thinking in Yourself and Others​

So because Hitler was a complex person, you can't say he was bad? All of those Nazi's convicted of running Treblinka, Auschwitz and other death camps did not deserve to die due to their complexity? We have no right to call John Wayne Gacy who captured little children, killed them and buried them beneath his house bad? What about Good? Are we too complex to call the best of us good?

 

[Kfox]

Interesting point because there are laws, supposedly to determine what is right or wrong and it can get a bit complex depending on situation.

Laws don't determine right vs wrong, they determine legal vs illegal. Just because it's legal, does not make it right; just because it's illegal does not make it wrong.

 

[syo]

Some say a person is good. Or bad. How do you figure good vs bad, or simply good and bad?

Modern abrahamics are bad.

 

[YoursTrue]

Laws don't determine right vs wrong, they determine legal vs illegal. Just because it's legal, does not make it right; just because it's illegal does not make it wrong.

According to the law, it should be for the good of the people. Stealing is against the law, and so forth. I agree with you, though, in many respects.

 

[YoursTrue]

So because Hitler was a complex person, you can't say he was bad? All of those Nazi's convicted of running Treblinka, Auschwitz and other death camps did not deserve to die due to their complexity? We have no right to call John Wayne Gacy who captured little children, killed them and buried them beneath his house bad? What about Good? Are we too complex to call the best of us good?

Not disagreeing with you but I am also thinking of the Law of Moses. According to the Bible, he did not invent the law.

 

[Kfox]

According to the law, it should be for the good of the people. Stealing is against the law, and so forth. I agree with you, though, in many respects.

When it comes to laws, often what's good for some people will not be good for others.

 

[Quintessence]

So because Hitler was a complex person, you can't say he was bad? All of those Nazi's convicted of running Treblinka, Auschwitz and other death camps did not deserve to die due to their complexity? We have no right to call John Wayne Gacy who captured little children, killed them and buried them beneath his house bad? What about Good? Are we too complex to call the best of us good?

Ah, yes, the tried and true debate tactic of "let's invoke Hitler!" I'm just gonna let out a long sigh over here and say if you, personally, enjoy black-and-white, either-or thinking with no room for nuance or both-and, you are more than welcome to practice it.

 

[YoursTrue]

When it comes to laws, often what's good for some people will not be good for others.

I would say that's true in the political sense certainly.

 

[YoursTrue]

Ah, yes, the tried and true debate tactic of "let's invoke Hitler!" I'm just gonna let out a long sigh over here and say if you, personally, enjoy black-and-white, either-or thinking with no room for nuance or both-and, you are more than welcome to practice it.

Hitler was a big one, but there were (are) so many others. God will judge them as for the outcome.