When I talk and write, I try to use words to mean very specific things. Unless I spell out potentially ambiguous meanings in advance, I find that the people I'm talking to get easily confused often.
"Good" is one such word. What does it mean for something to be "good"? For me, it means that something rationally supports my life in the long term.
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For example, eating healthy food is good. Acting honestly is good. Being just is good. More generally, acting with rational principles and virtues is good. However, acting on a whim, or simply pleasure seeking is not. For example, getting drunk or high might feel good, but it's not good in the sense I'm talking about here. In fact, feeling good isn't the same as being good.
What about helping someone? If you act voluntarily, out of charity and not a sense of guilt or duty, then that's virtuous, and is therefore good. However, if you act mainly because you feel it's the right thing to do, then you are actually hurting yourself, and it is therefore not good. Giving is good; sacrifice is not.
What about music or art? They can feed my soul, and add enjoyment to my life. That, in turn, rationally supports my life in the long term, so they can be good. The same is true for friends, family and relationships.
What about lying or cheating? You might feel good about doing such a thing. However, it is unprincipled; it does not support your life in the long term, and is therefore not good. This is a big topic, and I'm planning to post more about it later.
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