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What defines a "good person"?

Asked by MissAnthrope (21511points) April 23rd, 2011

What makes a person “good”?

Is a person “good” if they never have bad thoughts? They don’t wish ill on others, don’t have uncharitable thoughts, don’t judge others, do not harm others, avoid negativity, etc..

OR..

Is it impossible to expect people to be that pure of thought and deed? Is “goodness” the act of doing good despite not being pure of thought?

For example, if I see a wad of cash sitting around and I have the thought ’I could totally pick that up and pocket it and no one would be the wiser’, obviously, that’s not good.

But.. if then my conscience steps in and says, ’No, that’s terrible! Terrible. You should be embarrassed for even considering it!

Does that redeem my bad thought? Is that goodness in action, defeating bad/selfishness? Am I a bad person for considering stealing, even if only for a moment? Can a person be “good” and still have these kinds of “bad” thoughts?

Basically, is “good” the absence of bad thoughts or is it continuing to stay on the path of good despite bad thoughts?

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