DEFINING THE UNDEFINABLE

Part 6

WHAT IS GOODNESS?

Goodness is a human quality solely invented to describe the most desirable and most positive attributes of the essence of being human, putting us above animals and making us distinct from all other earthly living organisms.

Human beings, or Homo sapiens as a species, are biologically mammals and part of the animal kingdom. Therefore, we have a basal animal nature which also governs much of our behaviour, especially those that are driven by physiological instincts of thirst, hunger and sex; psychological instincts of survival, self-defence and territory; more complex instincts like maternal and social instincts; and others that manifest as self-centred and dominant behaviours. On the other hand, moral and ethical codes are artificial human constructs that we impose on ourselves because our higher mental functions trigger a need for validation of our special status in the living world. That’s how the concept of goodness is invented as a foundation for our “human” nature, which is distinguished from our animal nature.

So, the perennial debate as to whether our human nature is good or evil remains unresolved because of a widespread misunderstanding of the nature of “human nature” itself. In reality, “human nature” is, by definition, “good” because that is how we as humans conceived ourselves to be. The opposite of goodness, whether we call it badness or evil, is the label that we should rightfully put on other behaviours including those governed by our animal nature. Thus, in each of us, we have both a human and a animal nature, the proportion of which varies from individual to individual which can evolve to a more predominant human nature or devolve to a more pronounced animal nature over time even in the same individual.

There is no need for a God or the Devil (or Satan) to be the champions or instigators of goodness or evil in us. Unlike animals who have no need for religion or the supernatural, our human arrogance has made us devise narratives to justify the unnatural concepts of goodness and evil.

The parallel concepts of right and wrong are simply the mirror images of goodness and evil when the system is used to evaluate human actions. So, the post-modern rejection of the unequivocal opposition between right and wrong may unwittingly be correct, but for very different reasons.

In conclusion, our complex brains and the resultant higher intelligence necessitate the advent of exclusively human concepts of goodness and evil in order to rationalize our complicated lives.

DEFINING THE UNDEFINABLE 

Part 5

WHAT IS BEAUTY?

Beauty is the kind of idiosyncratic perfection that glorifies its own existence.

DEFINING THE UNDEFINABLE 

Part 4

WHAT IS ART?

Art is a form of expression extolling particular responses to, modes of or interpretations of human experiences; seeking to provoke the physical senses and mental processes into further diverse and unpredictable secondary responses in an effort to enrich and enlarge the full totality of the human experience.

DEFINING THE UNDEFINABLE

Part 3


WHAT IS LIFE?

Life is the one-time ownership of time and space between birth and death, affording you the opportunity to figure out what it is all about, to decide what to do and to do it until you get it right.

NICE MOVIE - CRAZY RICH ASIANS

Let me give you the verdict at the outset - you will enjoy this movie because it is so full of fun. Despite the inevitable cliches, the exaggerated show of decadence and the deliberate silliness, it manages to introduce some freshness in weaving together the three threads of a familiar love story, an undisguised ridicule of the laughable pretentiousness and the mad antics of the so-called super-rich and a re-exploration of the conflict between Asian family values and the Western pursuit of individual happiness.

So, it is still worthwhile examining the three questions that occupy your mind when you stumble out at the exit as the closing credits roll:

(1) In this day and age, are the so-called Asian values of hierarchy, authority, seniority, tradition and family still relevant in the face of a globalised world built around individual autonomy, freedom of choice and the universal pursuit of happiness? If the predictable ending is to be believed, the answer seems to be a NO.

(2) Is it necessary to be rich, never mind super-rich, to live satisfying and fulfilling lives? If large parts of the movie mine laughter by laughing at the excess and superficiality that money buys, the movie seems to answer NO to that question too. But seriously, if true love and happiness on the one hand; and a life of wealth, comfort and power on the other; are mutually-exclusive choices, how would or should we choose? I think that really depends on you.

(3) And the last and a politically-charged question: is the possession of wealth an accurate measure of a man’s (or woman’s) talent, self-worth and especially his worthiness for respect and self-respect, never mind the secondary question of whether which has more merit - old money or new money? To be polite, let’s just say that it is unsafe to give a clear answer to that, though it is pretty clear in our minds! Since money and talent are two of the most sensitive and contentious issues in Singapore, an honest answer here will probably be an unwanted one.

DEFINING THE UNDEFINABLE

Part 2

WHAT IS LOVE?

Many people think that love is an inexplicable and mysterious feeling that you have for another person. It seems that when you love him or her, you just know it; without knowing how or why.

I think a little differently. I think love is a spontaneous attraction or disposition towards a person whose mere presence makes you happy. I think love can be explained and can be recognized and understood, but it must be defined in the context of a relationship. Loving a thing or an object is diametrically different. So, in a loving relationship, you will find at least these seven features:

(1) You have a natural fondness for that person, a fondness not dependent on any specific quality or characteristic. 

(2) You accept him/her the way he/she is and you will never try to change him/her to fit your preference.

(3) You have genuine respect for his/her freedom and opinions and you will never try to dominate, override or disregard his/her free will and autonomy.

(4) You appreciate him/her as someone special and treasure him/her above everyone else.

(5) You are naturally kind and helpful towards him/her and you will do everything in your power to protect, satisfy and ensure his/her happiness.

(6) Loving someone does not entail possessing him/her.

(7) Your love for someone is not dependent or conditional on him/her loving you back.

If any one of these features are missing, it is possible that you don't really love him/her.

Lastly, must love be forever? ........... sadly, no! Love can fade. Love can be lost. Love can disappear. And, like everything else, love can die.

DEFINING THE UNDEFINABLE
This is a series that defines comprehensively and objectively difficult-to-define words and the concepts they represent.

Part 1

WHAT IS RELIGION?

Religions are emotional attempts to placate anxiety about human mortality or to provide existential consolation through a tenacious adherence or loyalty to a set of cultural beliefs, rituals and communal behaviour, to be defended at all costs. Their central ideas are focused either on an unalterable fundamental principle or varying concepts of a supreme supernatural being or beings that have absolute control over human destiny. Characteristically, such ideas are neither grounded in reason nor reality, so a scientific or logical evaluation of religion is not possible.