What does it mean to be good? In a commercial sense good is used to sell products, in a political sense it is an ideology, and in a religious sense, it will be things that appease a higher authority. While studying ethics we look at good in a way that is applicable to everything we do in life, things that everyone recognizes, things that are common sense. People have a tendency to use comparisons. Rather than using a social comparison approach that depends on the clique a person belongs to, we will focus on the actions alone.

There are three aspects to goodness. The first is honor; things that are trustworthy, courageous and just. The second aspect of good is that which is advantageous; the things help accomplish our ambitions in life. The third aspect of good is that which is pleasurable; things that give us enjoyment and fulfill our desires.

These aspects of good don’t always coincide. That which is pleasurable might not be honorable. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. That which is honorable might not be advantageous. People seek ways to reconcile them in their day to day lives to find overall happiness. To say we got away with something means that the action could have affected one aspect of good negatively but didn’t. Regrets can be about choices between different aspects of good where a person might wish they wouldn’t have sacrificed a certain good as much. Sometimes a person wonders if the right choices were made. Those who want to change the past will wish to put more of one of the goods back in. But it is best to focus on the future where choices still remain.

The three goods have three opposites. Instead of honor, actions might produce spite. Instead of advantage, actions can produce loss. Instead of pleasure, actions can produce misery. We want to fit all the good that is possible into this life while avoiding the opposites as much as possible. Having the ability to recognize the good and the greater goods is the beginning of making the right choices with our actions.

Everyone wants to be held in high regard. This is what honor addresses. In the same way, it is best not to be spiteful toward others. Honor seems to have more bearing than the other goods. When we talk about rights, it is implied that every citizen is due a minimum amount of honor no matter what their character. It is easier to see actions that are due honor toward those who are nearest to us. Sometimes we give more honor than is due to celebrities and leaders when we have no idea what their actual character contains. A person can demand respect but to be held in high regard is much better since people will treat them with honor when no one is watching. The things done out of spite usually end up hurting us rather than the subject. The best way to be treated with high regard is to treat people with the honor you wish to have.