The examples and perspective good valentines gifts for friends this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. In many Western religions, angels are considered to be good beings and are contrasted with demons, who are considered as their evil contemporaries. In most contexts, the concept of good denotes the conduct that should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions. Good is generally considered to be the opposite of evil and is of interest in the study of ethics, morality, philosophy, and religion.

A sense of moral judgment and a distinction “right and wrong, good and bad” are cultural universals. Although the history of the origin of the use of the concept and meaning of “good” are diverse, the notable discussions of Plato and Aristotle on this subject have been of significant historical effect. Plato identifies how the form of the Good allows for the cognizance to understand such difficult concepts as justice. In contrast to Plato, Aristotle discusses the Forms of Good in critical terms several times in both of his major surviving ethical works, the Eudemian and Nicomachean Ethics. Plato and Aristotle were not the first contributors in ancient Greece to the study of the “good” and discussion preceding them can be found among the pre-Socratic philosophers. For the western world, this idea developed into a religion that spawned many sects, some of which embraced an extreme dualistic belief that the material world should be shunned and the spiritual world should be embraced.

A stained glass window of Thomas Aquinas in St. A significant enlightenment context for studying the “good” has been its significance in the study of “the good, the true, and the beautiful” as found in Immanuel Kant and other Enlightenment philosophers and religious thinkers. John Rawls’s book A Theory of Justice prioritized social arrangements and goods, based on their contribution to justice. In religion, ethics, and philosophy, “good and evil” is a very common dichotomy. In cultures with Buddhist spiritual influence, this antagonistic duality itself must be overcome through achieving Śūnyatā, or emptiness. Gnostic Philosophy: From Ancient Persia to Modern Times.

Good and Evil: Interpreting a Human Condition. Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: Mutual Renewal and Transformation. New York, New York, USA: Oxford University Press, Pp. The Book of Real Answers to Everything! Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives. The Principles of Morals and Legislation.