I know a little boy who after
tasting with gusto his morning's oatmeal would turn for sympathy to
each other person at table with the assertive inquiry, "Good? Good?
Good?" He knew no good but enjoyment, and this was so keen that he
expected to find it repeated in each of his friends. It is true we
often call actions good which are not immediately pleasing; for
example, the cutting off of a leg which is crushed past the
possibility of cure. But the leg, if left, will cause still more
distress or even death. In the last analysis the word good will be
found everywhere to refer to some satisfaction of human desire. If we
count afflictions good, it is because we believe that through them
permanent peace may best be reached. And rightly do those name the
Bible the Good Book who think that it more than any other has helped
to alleviate the woes of man.
With this definition I shall not quarrel. So far as it goes, it seems
to me not incorrect. In all good I too find satisfaction of desire.
Only, though true, the definition is in my judgment vague and
inadequate. For we shall still need some standard to test the goodness
of desires. They themselves may be good, and some of them are better
than others. It is good to eat candy, to love a friend, to hate a foe,
to hear the sound of running water, to practice medicine, to gather
wealth, learning, or postage stamps.
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