The Autonomy of Good: Exploring the Balance of Choice
Our life is filled with choices, and within this dynamic, good manifests as an independent value, capable of shining with its purity without relying on evil. The inquiry into the nature of good and evil shows that evil is always defined through the presence of good—it represents a distortion of what exists in its pure and perfect form. This idea provides not only a basis for philosophical reflection but also inspires mindful use of the freedom of choice inherent in human existence. It is precisely because of free will that a person can discern these categories, making choices that shape both one’s destiny and the surrounding world. While the concepts of good and evil are characteristic of human experience, the Highest Being appears as the embodiment of impeccable good, requiring no contrast with evil—since evil remains merely a reflection of imperfection that arises from limited perception. In summary, the autonomy of good, its capability to exist independently of evil, not only confirms the absolute perfection of this category but also underscores the significance of human choice, which defines our conception of the world.
Question: Can good exist as an autonomous category without evil, and why are such concepts characteristic of humans rather than the Almighty?Answer:According to the provided materials, good can indeed be regarded as an autonomous category that exists in its pure form, without necessitating dependence on evil. One source emphasizes that evil does not possess autonomy—it is always mediated and defined by the presence of good, whereas good can exist absolutely, without including evil. In the text, it is stated:"In truth, evil is impossible without good, but good is possible without evil. More precisely, the possibility of good implies also the possibility of evil. Yet the reality of good does not necessarily imply the reality of evil..." (source: link txt).In parallel, when examining these categories from the perspective of the Almighty, it is noted that the concepts of good and evil pertain to the human experience and free will, which enables a person to choose between them. One source explicitly states:"Human free will has the possibility to choose between good and evil, and that is where its freedom lies... The Almighty has no concept of evil." (source: link txt).Thus, good—as an objective quality of existence—can exist independently, while evil is always a distortion or negation of good. For human beings, the concepts of good and evil have meaning precisely because free will enables one to choose and, consequently, to distinguish between these categories. Meanwhile, the Almighty, being the embodiment of Absolute Good, does not require such a differentiation, as His essence embodies only purity and perfection, without any admixture of evil.Additionally, the idea that evil cannot be completely autonomous is confirmed by the following statement:"For evil, being inherently evil, cannot exist without containing at least a particle of good... Although good can exist in a pure form; good cannot include evil, whereas evil always depends on some, even a perceived, good." (source: link txt).In conclusion, the concept of good as an autonomous category is affirmed by the fact that its very nature does not necessitate the existence of evil, while evil is viewed as a corruption of good that emerges from the freedom of choice inherent in humanity. The Almighty, as the source of absolute and perfect good, does not encompass the concept of evil, since this notion is conditioned by imperfection and the limitations of human perception.Supporting citation(s):"In truth, evil is impossible without good, but good is possible without evil. More precisely, the possibility of good also implies the possibility of evil. Yet the reality of good does not necessarily imply the reality of evil..." (source: link txt)"Human free will has the possibility to choose between good and evil, and that is where its freedom lies... The Almighty has no concept of evil." (source: link txt)"For evil, being inherently evil, cannot exist without containing at least a particle of good... Although good can exist in a pure form; good cannot include evil, whereas evil always depends on some, even a perceived, good." (source: link txt)