Good vs. Evil

Main Difference

The main difference between Good and Evil is that the Good is a term in religion, ethics, and philosophy and Evil is a profound immorality.

• Good

  In its most general context, the concept of good denotes that conduct which is to be or should be preferred when posed with a choice between a set of possible actions. Good is generally considered to be the opposite of evil. The concept is of interest in the study of morality, ethics, religion and philosophy, and the specific meaning and etiology of the term and its associated translations among ancient and contemporary languages has varied substantially in its inflected meaning depending on circumstances of place, history, religious context, or philosophical context.

• Evil

  Evil, in a general sense, is the opposite or absence of good. It can be an extremely broad concept, though in everyday usage is often used more narrowly to denote profound wickedness. It is generally seen as taking multiple possible forms, such as the form of personal moral evil commonly associated with the word, or impersonal natural evil (as in the case of natural disasters or illnesses), and in religious thought, the form of the demonic or supernatural/eternal.Evil can denote profound immorality, but typically not without some basis in the understanding of the human condition, where strife and suffering (cf. Hinduism) are the true roots of evil. In certain religious contexts, evil has been described as a supernatural force. As defined in philosophy it can be the name for the psychology and instinct of individuals which selfishly but often necessarily defends the personal boundary against deadly attacks and serious threats. Definitions of evil vary, as does the analysis of its motives. Elements that are commonly associated with personal forms of evil involve unbalanced behavior involving anger, revenge, fear, hatred, psychological trauma, expediency, selfishness, ignorance, or neglect.Evil is sometimes perceived as the dualistic antagonistic binary opposite to good, in which good should prevail and evil should be defeated. In cultures with Buddhist spiritual influence, both good and evil are perceived as part of an antagonistic duality that itself must be overcome through achieving Nirvana. The philosophical questions regarding good and evil are subsumed into three major areas of study: Meta-ethics concerning the nature of good and evil, Normative ethics concerning how we ought to behave, and Applied ethics concerning particular moral issues. While the term is applied to events and conditions without agency, the forms of evil addressed in this article presume an evildoer or doers.

  Some religions and philosophies deny evil’s existence and usefulness in describing people.

• Good (adjective)

  to be desired or approved of

  “Good! The more people the better!”

  “a good quality of life”

  “it’s good that he’s back to his old self”

• Good (adjective)

  pleasing and welcome

  “we’ve had some good news”

  “it’s good to see you again”

• Good (adjective)

  showing approval

  “the play had good reviews”

• Good (adjective)

  having the required qualities; of a high standard

  “his marks are just not good enough”

  “a good restaurant”

• Good (adjective)

  skilled at doing or dealing with a specified thing

  “I’m good at crosswords”

  “he was good with children”

• Good (adjective)

  healthy, strong, or well

  “she’s not feeling too good”

• Good (adjective)

  useful, advantageous, or beneficial in effect

  “too much sun is not good for you”

• Good (adjective)

  appropriate to a particular purpose

  “this is a good month for planting seeds”

• Good (adjective)

  (of language) with correct grammar and pronunciation

  “she speaks good English”

• Good (adjective)

  strictly adhering to or fulfilling all the principles of a particular religion or cause

  “I am the eldest of five in a good Catholic family”

• Good (adjective)

  possessing or displaying moral virtue

  “her father was a good man”

• Good (adjective)

  showing kindness

  “it was good of you to come”

• Good (adjective)

  obedient to rules or conventions

  “accustom the child to being rewarded for good behaviour”

• Good (adjective)

  used to address or refer to people in a courteous, patronizing, or ironic way

  “a man very like your good self, in fact”

  “the good lady of the house”

• Good (adjective)

  commanding respect

  “he was concerned with establishing and maintaining his good name”

• Good (adjective)

  belonging or relating to a high social class

  “he comes from a good family”

• Good (adjective)

  giving pleasure; enjoyable or satisfying

  “the streets fill up with people looking for a good time”

• Good (adjective)

  pleasant to look at; attractive

  “you’re looking pretty good”

• Good (adjective)

  (of clothes) smart and suitable for formal wear

  “he went upstairs to change out of his good suit”

• Good (adjective)

  thorough

  “now is the time to have a really good clear-up”

  “have a good look around”

• Good (adjective)

  used to emphasize that a number is at least as great as one claims

  “they’re a good twenty years younger”

• Good (adjective)

  used to emphasize a following adjective or adverb

  “it’ll be good and dark by then”

  “we had a good long hug”

• Good (adjective)

  fairly large in number, amount, or size

  “there’s a good chance that we may be able to help”

  “the match attracted a good crowd”

• Good (adjective)

  valid

  “the ticket is good for travel from May to September”

• Good (adjective)

  likely to provide

  “she’s always good for a laugh”

• Good (adjective)

  sufficient to pay for

  “his money was good for a bottle of whisky”

• Good (adjective)

  used in conjunction with the name of God or a related expression as an exclamation of extreme surprise or anger

  “good heavens!”

• Good (noun)

  that which is morally right; righteousness

  “a mysterious balance of good and evil”

• Good (noun)

  benefit or advantage to someone or something

  “he is too clever for his own good”

  “he convinces his father to use his genius for the good of mankind”

  “the preservation of old buildings matters because they contribute to the general public good”

• Good (noun)

  merchandise or possessions

  “imports of luxury goods”

  “the market price of an agricultural good”

  “stolen goods”

• Good (noun)

  things to be transported, as distinct from passengers

  “a means of transporting passengers as well as goods”

  “a goods train”

• Good (noun)

  the genuine article.

• Good (adverb)

  well

  “I’m feeling pretty good, all things considered”

  “my mother could never cook this good”